St Lawrence Basilica- Attur Gearing up for the Big Feast
Mangaluru: The name Karkala is well renowned in most part of South India for two things: 1.More than two century old St. Lawrence Church now christened as St Lawrence Minor Basilica- at Attur, about six kilometres from Karkala 2.The monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwara) erected by a Jain king in 1432. In addition to this, the Chaturmukha temple, (temple with four analogous entrances doors) which is build of granite, the Ananthashayana Temple, Ramasamundram (a big natural lake which never does dry), about 25-acre Anekere Lake built by Pandyadeva than the Bhairasa King of Karkala in 1262. Two ancient caves build by Tippu Sultan in the ‘Parpale’ hill and many other historical places, which draw devotees and art lovers from all over.
The Feast celebrations of St Lawrence at Attur starts tomorrow- I remember my childhood days, when my mother is to take me to the annual feast of St Lawrence Church in Karkala-Attur, and after attending the special Mass and Novena’s for long hours, my mom used to make me happy by buying lots of ‘Thambde Gulles’ and couple of watermelons. Although I wasn’t keen on knowing much about the church during my school and college days, but making a visit this morning I learned quite a bit about this magnificent Church, and also its patron Saint, who is known for his astonishing intercession with God. The number of pilgrims to the place throughout the year and especially those during the feast days in the month of January is an evident proof that St. Lawrence does not disappoint those who come to him in faith and devotion. And the present parish priest was kind enough to give me some details since he was busy with preparations for tomorrow’s first day of the Feast celebrations.
The pendals have been erected, a bunch of temporary toilets have been set up, stalls have been set up, street vendors have already arrived and looked forward to making a brisk business, and last minute preparations for the big feast is going on with the faithful and volunteers lending their helping hand. Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Rev. Fr. Dennis D’Sa said. ” Most of the preparations for the feast had been completed. This is the first annual feast after the St. Lawrence shrine was elevated as Basilica on August 1, 2016. The feast usually held for three days had been extended to five days because of an increase in the number of devotees”.
“Nearly thirty one masses in Konkani and twelve masses in Kannada will be offered on the days of the feast. The feast will commence at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday (22 January) with the Holy Mass of Confraternity. There will be special masses for the children at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the same day. There will be a special Holy Mass for the children at 10 a.m. and for the sick at 3.30 p.m. on Monday. The Archbishop of Bengaluru- Rev Fr Bernard Moras, the Bishop of Ballari Rev Fr Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Belthangady-Rev Fr Lawrence Mukkuzhy-, Bishop of Mangaluru-Rev Fr Aloysius P D’Souza- and Bishop of Udupi- Rev Fr Gerald Isaac Lobo will offer masses during the festival” added Fr D’Sa.
He further said, “About 60,000 sq ft area was added on the eastern side of the Basilica recently. This will help devotees at the location to light candles. Facility for Confessions for Catholic Christians has been created on the western side where the Miraculous Statue has been installed. The old church has been reserved only for personal prayer. The devotees may submit their offerings, candles, etc., on the eastern side of the old church. Holy water and flowers will be distributed to them at the same location. I personally invite everyone to join in the five-day celebrations”
St Lawrence (Church) Basilica -Attur, Karkala:
St.Lawrence church is known as the beacon of miracles, which have been produced over the years. St. Lawrence is known as the miracle worker among His devotees worldwide. The Western Ghats on the East side, the blue and purple sky above dotted with small jungle’s. Karkalagot its name from “Kari kal” meaning black granite, which you can find all over. The shrine of St. Lawrence at Attur – Karkala parish seems to have been in existence even before 1759 A.D. St. Lawrence of Attur is known for his astonishing power of intercession with God. Not only the residents of Karkala and the pilgrims flocking there in great numbers, but also devotees who invoke St. Lawrence of Attur without visiting the shrine have experienced his powerful intercession.
Attur Parish seems to have been in existence even before 1759 A.D. History tells us that the Christians of this place too were among those in the captivity of Tippu from 1784-1799. The parish church in those days was about 7 kilometres away from the present site. Tippu destroyed it and took the Christians as captives to Srirangapatna. At the end of captivity, the Christians that returned put up, under the leadership of a Goan priest, a small church building with thatched roof on the way to Nakre in 1801.
I learned that the shrine of St. Lawrence at Attur-Karkala parish seems to have been in existence even before 1759. History tells us that the Christians of this place too were among those who suffered captivity of Tippu Sultan from 1784-1799 AD. The parish church in those days was situated at a place about 7 kilometres away from the present church. Tippu destroyed it and took the Christians to Shrirangapatna as captives. Those Christians who returned after freedom from captivity built a church with thatched roof in the year 1801, under the leadership of a Goan priest. In the year 1839 it was replaced by another building. It was about 4 Kilometres away from the previous one. This new building happened to be on the back of the present church and was facing West. A small flower garden is standing in that place now.
Soon it became a place for pilgrimage, pilgrims from all sides came to this sacred place and innumerable were the favours granted by the Saint. In the year 1895 the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Frank Pereira finding so many devotees of St. Lawrence flocking to this Church and claiming to have received innumerable favours from the Saint fostered the devotion further and organized Novenas and prayer services making them more and more meaningful. Then in the year, 1900 Rev. Fr. Frank built a Church facing the North. This Church was blessed and inaugurated on January 22, 1901 by the Vicar General, Very Rev. Mgr. Frachett. Rev. Fr. Frank Pereira’s successors too kept up the devotions and throughout the year people from near and far-off places were going to Attur on pilgrimage. Over the past years, the patronage of St. Lawrence over Attur has been remarkable. St. Lawrence shrine was elevated as Basilica on August 1, 2016.
History behind the Church:
Devotees of St Lawrence accompanied by a Goan priest went about in search of a suitable site for building a Church, carrying with them a one-foot wooden statue of St Lawrence. They were praying St Lawrence to guide them in the choice of a place for raising a church in his honour. They crossed the Rama-Samudra of Karkala and coming down the woods of ‘Parpare hills’ they reached Attur. Then they saw a spring flowing at the bottom of the hill. As they were tired and thirsty they placed the statue of Saint on the ground and quenched their thirst.
After some time they thought of resuming the journey, but to their great surprise they could not lift the statue, it was firm and immovable like a tree. Then the priest decided to build the church there and stooped down to lift the statue and it easily detached from the ground. It was at that very spot, that they erected the church in the year 1839, and soon became a place of pilgrimage.
In the year 1895 the parish priest, Rev Fr Frank finding so many devotees of St Lawrence flocking to this church and claiming to have received innumerable favours from the saint fostered the devotion further and organised novenas and prayer services making them more and more attractive. In the year 1900, Rev Fr Frank Pereira had the present church built facing the north and was inaugurated in 1901.
Rev Fr Fredrick P S Moniz built the little shrine of St Lawrence that is adjacent to the sacristy in the year 1975 wherein the miraculous statue is preserved. A hundred feet high tower representing religious art of various regions was built in 1997, to symbolise the church’s ingenuousness in accepting people of various faiths. In 1998 the ‘Miracle-Pond’, Pushkarini was renovated in modern Indian architectural style with the facility for pilgrims to descend into the pond. In addition, the Twin gates in front of the church, built in 1999, in line with the Tower further enhances the beauty of the Holy Place.
This church being widely acclaimed as having the power to intercede with God attracts not only the residents of Udupi District but also pilgrims from all parts of India. This parish of St Lawrence celebrated its 200 years of its existence in January 2001. A new church building as a memorial of the Bicentenary was blessed on the 21st of January 2001 by the Bishop of Mangalore. The Annual Festival is popularly known as ‘Attur Jatre (Festival)’ is both a religious and cultural fete, as people from all faiths throng the church on this occasion. People of all religions are equally fond of the Attur Church or the Attur Jatre. Another significant characteristic of the church is the jatre (festival) that takes place every year during the last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of January inviting lakhs of devotees into its arms.
