Malayattoor Perunnal

Malayattoor Perunnal or the Malayattoor Feast is an annual church festival held at the St. Thomas Church located in Malayattoor in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. It is celebrated every year on the Sunday following Easter. Legend has it that St. Thomas was one of Jesus Christ’s ten witnesses. It is believed that he landed in Muziris, Kerala in 52 CE and went on to construct Malayattoor Church, one of India’s most revered churches. Later, he withdrew to the hills of Kurishmudi where you’ll find the Golden Cross which forms the crux of the Malayattoor Feast. Every year, thousands of pilgrims arrive in the tiny village of Malayattoor and climb the steep hills of Kurishmudi with wooden crosses on their shoulders. They chant the name of the Apostle, 'Ponninkurisumala Muthappa', and climb diligently to reach the holy shrine where the Golden Cross is located. It is believed that the Golden Cross was formed when St. Thomas bent down on a rock and signed a cross with his finger. You’ll also find footprints and knee impressions of St. Thomas on the rock here. The village wears a festive look every year after Easter as it gets ready to welcome the perunnal devotees. The procession of the pilgrims up the steep hill of Kurishmudi is definitely a sight to watch.