| Feast of Saint Raphael | |
|---|---|
Pandal inOllur Junction made for the annual feast of Saint Raphael | |
| Genre | Church festivals |
| Dates | 23, 24 October |
| Locations | Ollur,Thrissur,Kerala |
| Founded | 1718 |
| Attendance | 1,00,000 above |
| Patron | Saint Antony |
| Website | http://ollurshrine.org/ |
TheFeast of Saint Raphael orMalakhayude Perunnal is an annual festival held inOllur, nearThrissur, Kerala (India), since 1839. It draws thousands of pilgrims.[1] The Ollurforane church, founded in 1718 and dedicated to St Anthony, also houses a shrine ofRaphael the Archangel.[2] It is one of the oldest churches built in 18th-centuryKerala. The festival, held on 23 and 24 October of each year, is one of the most important Christian festivals inKerala. The festival starts with the hoisting of the ceremonial flag on 15 October to mark the beginning of the celebrations in the church compound.[3] It is one of half a dozen Christian festivals listed by Kerala Tourism as among the attractions of the state.[4]