Despite a boycott by Indian fisherfolk, the annual St. Antony’s church festival at Katchatheevu saw a significant turnout, with over 4,000 devotees attending the two-day event, including a heavy Sri Lankan military presence

The pilgrimage, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, attracted 4,354 devotees from across Sri Lanka. Some of the attendees included members of Sri Lanka’s navy, officials from the Presidential Secretariat, and the Indian consulate in Jaffna. As in previous years, the Sri Lankan military maintained a heavy presence in the region, as their occupation of the Tamil homeland continues. 

The festival, held on the 23rd and 24th of February, addressed various logistical concerns such as sanitation, transportation, security, food, shelter, and drinking water facilities for the devotees. Katchatheevu is a 163-acre islet, that holds profound religious importance for Tamil Catholics, housing the St. Anthony's Shrine, revered by fishing communities.

Despite its religious significance, Katchatheevu remains a point of political contention. Sri Lanka's detention of Indian fishermen operating in its territorial waters has led to protests over the last few days. Tamil Nadu fishermen from the village of Rameswaram have launched landmark mass protest against the continued detention of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and have declared their intention to boycott the religious St Anthony’s festival.

In the last two months, over 69 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, reports ABP News. This includes 23 fishermen who were arrested on a single day, 3^rd February. These arrested have been linked to accounts of torture and extrajudicial killings.The protests also include a boycotting of the Sr Anthony’s festival in the islet of Katchatheevu. The religious festival, held on 23-24 February, attracts thousands of Catholics a year and is in honours Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of many fishing communities.

Read more here: Tamil Nadu fishermen boycott St Anthony’s festival

The protests also include a boycotting of the Sr Anthony’s festival in the islet of Katchatheevu. The religious festival, held on 23-24 February, attracts thousands of Catholics a year and is in honours Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of many fishing communities.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, requested their intervention to support the immediate release of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Nearly 3,500 Indians who registered for the festival were left disappointed as ferry services to the island were suspended due to ongoing protests according to the Indian press. 

Anthony Bakyaraj from Bengaluru expressed disappointment, highlighting the extensive preparation pilgrims undertook for the journey. "Our father did inform us of the boycott decision, but we held onto hope for a last-minute compromise. We now consider it a loss," lamented Bakyaraj, emphasizing the unfairness of Sri Lanka's actions impacting fishermen's livelihoods.