Kanni 20 Perunnal

The Great Feast of Cheriapally

The Kanni 20 Perunnal is the greatest festival of Mar Thoma Cheriapally and one of the largest Christian gatherings in Kerala. It honours St. Yeldo Mar Baselios — Kothamangalam Muthappan — whose tomb rests in the madbaha of the church.

The feast is celebrated on October 2 and 3 (Kanni 19 and 20 in the Malayalam calendar). Kanni 19 marks the day the saint entered eternal rest in 1685; Kanni 20 is the principal feast day. More than three centuries after his arrival at Cheriapally, the perunnal draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims beyond caste and religion.

The Government of Kerala has declared Kothamangalam Taluk a festival area during these days, recognising the spiritual and cultural significance of the celebration for the entire region.

Opening of the Festival (Kodiyettu)

The festival season begins on September 25 with the kodiyettu — the hoisting of the festival flag. A solemn procession sets out from Chakkalakkudi Chapel, near the Kozhippilly river where the saint first arrived in the Kothamangalam region.

The procession proceeds to Cheriapally with prayers at the historic western stone cross, linking the Kanni 20 Perunnal to the ancient faith of the parish and to the Kalkurishu Perunnal observed on September 26. With the raising of the flag, the church enters a period of intensified prayer, preparation, and devotion leading to the feast days.

Throughout these days, pilgrims begin to arrive — on foot, by bus, and from distant districts — filling Kothamangalam with the spirit of pilgrimage and celebration.

Feast Days — October 2 & 3

On October 2 (Kanni 19), the faithful commemorate the passing of St. Yeldo Mar Baselios — the day the western stone cross shone with light and the church bells rang on their own. Holy Qurbana, special prayers, and veneration at the tomb mark this solemn and joyful remembrance.

On October 3 (Kanni 20), the principal feast day, the church overflows with worshippers. The madbaha, the tomb, and the church courtyard become the centre of devotion for lakhs of people who come to seek the saint’s intercession, offer nercha, and take part in the liturgical celebrations of the Syriac Orthodox tradition.

The nercha sadya — a ritual feast for pilgrims — is served on both days from more than thirty counters near the Mar Basel Convention Centre, prepared and distributed by hundreds of parish volunteers as an act of charity and hospitality.

Processions & the Festival Chant

Grand processions form the heart of the public celebration. On October 2 at 10:00 PM and October 3 at 2:00 PM, processions move through Kothamangalam with muthukkudas (ornate parasols), gold and silver crosses, incense, and the faithful of every age.

Sunday School children walk in procession chanting the beloved prayer of the saint. The descendants of the Nair youth who guided St. Yeldo Mar Baselios — the Chakkalakkal Nair family — lead with the thookkuvilakku (swinging lamp) after observing a week-long fast, preserving a tradition unbroken across generations.

Sacred Offerings & Traditions

Thamukku nercha — a traditional offering of roasted rice powder, plantain, and jaggery — is prepared and distributed during the festival, continuing a custom observed for generations. Devotees also offer tender coconuts, light lamps, and fulfil vows undertaken at the tomb throughout the year.

Foot pilgrimages arrive from Idukki, the High Range, North Paravur, Piravom, and districts across Kerala. Many pilgrims walk long distances as an act of devotion, arriving at Cheriapally to pray before returning home blessed.

Devotees may also take a Kanni 20 Perunnal Share (ohari) to take part in the memorial feast of St. Yeldo Bava. Online payment is available during the festival season; bring your receipt to the counter to receive the share.

For a full description of nercha, vows, and offerings at the tomb, visit our Offerings & Traditions page.