NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MARCH 8
The Annual St. Antony’s Church Festival (Kachchativu Festival) was held Friday and Saturday (March 6 and 7) at Kachchativu Island, located 12 nautical miles from Rameswaram and 22 nautical miles from Mandapam went off peacefully, says a release.
A total of 2570 pilgrims and 24 Mechanised boats, 23 country craft undertook the voyage from Rameswaram jetty on March 6. The pilgrims and boats were handed over to Sri Lankan Navy/Sri Lankan Coast Guard by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship at IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line). The pilgrims took part in the church festival at Kachchativu Island and stayed overnight on Friday (March 6).
The pilgrims along with boats departed Kachchativu on Friday (March 7) were escorted by Sri Lankan Navy to IMBL and were handed over to Indian Coast Guard. Post Clearance at IMBL by ICG, the boats thereafter returned to Rameswaram jetty, the release said.
3 ICG ships, 2 Hovercraft and 2 Dornier aircraft were deployed for smooth conduct of the event. Escorting the pilgrim boats to IMBL for handing over to Sri Lankan Navy including SAR coverage was undertaken Indian Coast Guard Station Mandapam/CGAS Chennai. The Indian Coast Guard Station Mandapam coordinated the same with various stake holders namely Immigration, Customs, CSG, Police, fisheries and other agencies, the defence press release added.
