Over 2,000 from Rameswaram to attend Katchatheevu festival on Feb 23, 24

A Antonysamy said, the festival will be conducted on February 23 and 24 and an official invitation from Jaffna Bishop office has been sent to him. Ramanathapuram Collector S Natarajan had assured Antonysamy that he would get permission for the fishermen to attend the festival. The Collector had given permission tor 62 boats. 

It is said that each boat would have 35 persons, including five fishermen. Boat owners should submit their permission letter before January 13 and persons willing to travel in the boats should submit their application forms to the respective boat owners by January 30. Also, a person should pay Rs1,300 as travel expense to the boat owners, said Antonysamy. He also said that all of them should produce their Aadhaar cards. 

Similarly, people from other states should get a no objection certificate from the nearby police stations to travel in the boat and attend the Church festival, explained Antonysamy. In 2017, fishermen did not attend the Church festival as a Rameswaram.