Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Arrangements in place for Maramon convention

— Photo: Leju Kamal

All set: The venue of the 115th Maramon convention on the sand-bed of the Pampa at Maramon, near Kozhencherry. The annual meet begins today.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA) attached to the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the 115th week-long annual religious retreat that begins at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, on Sunday afternoon.

A large thatched shed to accommodate as many as one lakh people has been erected on the riverbed of Pampa. According to MTEA general secretary C.K. Mathew, various missionary units of the Mar Thoma Church and agencies such as the Christian Agency for Rural Development-Krishi Vigyan Kendra and the Department of Sacred Music and Communications will open stalls at the venue from February 14 to 21.

A committee chaired by Thiruvalla Revenue Divisional Officer has been constituted to ensure better coordination among various government departments. The meeting will come to a close on February 21.

Mar Thoma Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma will inaugurate the convention at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan will preside over the function and Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior Metropolitan, will lead the prayer. Martin Alphons, evangelist from the U.S., will deliver a religious discourse.

The police have opened special outposts at Maramon and Kozhencherry town. The Health Department will deploy a mobile medical team during the convention period.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate special services to Maramon from its depots at Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Edathua, Chengannur, Kottarakara and Ranni from February 14 to 21. All KSRTC buses will stop at Nedumprayar Junction during the convention period.

Kerala State electricity Board executive engineer Prasannakumar told The Hindu that the board had taken every possible step to provide uninterrupted power supply to the convention venue. Similarly, the Kerala Water Authority had taken steps to provide drinking water supply at the venue.

An ecumenical meet in connection with the convention will be held on February 17. The Mar Thoma Metropolitan will preside over the function.

The convention will have three sessions of religious discourse at 10.30 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on all days from February 15 to 20. Bible classes will be held separately for men and women between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. from February 15.

Joseph Mar Thoma will deliver the valedictory message on February 21.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Melamparambil felicitated
Arrangements in place for Maramon convention
175th birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna
Heavy rush at Sabarimala temple

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu