Two important festivals of
St Mary's Forane Church, at
Bharananganam, are jointly known as Bharananganam Feast. St Mary's Forane Church, 5 km east of
Pala, is one of the oldest churches in
Kerala. The mortal remains of blessed Sister Alphonsa who died on 28 July, 1946 are entombed at this church.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the 9th of November and Feast of St Sebastian on the 20th of January are important festivals celebrated here. These festivals attract thousands of pilgrims from all over India.
Tradition says that the celebration of the Feast of St Sebastian has some connections either with a Sree Krishna Temple (situated nearby) or with a Namboodiri family which once proposed by the side of the temple. The 'circumambulation ceremony', which uses Kolvilakku (lamp with long handles), during the feast closely resembles the one uses in the temple procession. Also, the feast and the temple aarattu are held more or less during the same period in the Malayalam month of
Makaram every year.
By road, St Mary's Forane Church is easily accessible from Pala.
Ettumanoor Railway Station is about 23 km away.
