Pala Jubilee

Pala Kurishupally or Pala Church Tower Pala Jubilee (Malayalam: പാലാ ജൂബിലി) is a Christian religious festival held every year in Pala, also known as Palai, in Kerala’s Kottayam district. It takes place at the Pala Kurishupally, which is also called the Jubilee Chapel. The festival is connected with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated in the first week of December, with 8 December being the most important day.

History

Pala Town The Pala Jubilee has its origins in the Catholic faith and the long-standing devotion to the Virgin Mary among Christians in Pala. In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which teaches that Mary was conceived without original sin. In 1904, Catholic communities across the world observed the Golden Jubilee of this declaration. In Pala, the occasion led to the construction of a chapel in the town area to mark the event. A statue of the Virgin Mary brought from France was placed in the chapel, and the site later came to be known as the Jubilee Chapel (Jubilee Kappela).

The first Jubilee Chapel was a small building. As the public participation grew, the structure was later replaced with a larger stone chapel with a high spire. The foundation stone for the new building was laid in 1955 by Mar Sebastian Vayalil, who was then the Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Pala. The construction work continued for many years and used 14,444 carved stone slabs. The chapel was blessed on 7 December 1977. In February 1978, a statue of Jesus Christ measuring about twelve and a half feet was installed on top of the tower.

At present, the Jubilee Chapel is used as a place of worship and is also known as a local landmark in Pala. The administration of the chapel is shared by three parishes—St. Thomas Cathedral, Lalam Pazhayapally, and Lalam Puthenpally. Custodianship of the chapel is held by the Cathedral parish. St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala

Religious significance

The Pala Jubilee is a religious observance connected with Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception. In Catholic belief, the feast recalls that Mary was conceived without original sin. For the local Christian community, it is a time for common prayer and worship. The feast has an importance for members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church with a long tradition of Marian devotion in Kerala.

The celebration is also treated as a pilgrimage event. Devotees attend Masses and take part in processions, rosary prayers, and other religious practices during the period of the feast. The Bishop of the diocese leads the main liturgical services. Eucharistic celebrations are held on the feast day.

Festival events

Pala Kurishupally Kavala during Pala Jubilee The dates of celebration of the Pala Jubilee are between 1st December and 9th December. During the time, religious services and related activities are conducted in or around the Jubilee Chapel.

Opening ceremony

The festivities start on 1 December with a flag hoisting ceremony organized at the premises of the chapel. This ceremony is initiated by the parish clergy. It signals the beginning of the Jubilee Year festivities.

Religious Events

During the festival, Catholic Church ceremonies like Holy Masses (Qurbana), Rosary prayers, and sermons are also performed daily. These religious practices are done at both the Jubilee Chapel and prayer sites set up temporarily considering the huge congregation.

Processions

Processions are a part of the jubilee celebrations. There are Marian processions and rallies on the 7th and 8th of December. In these processions, the statue of the Virgin Mary passes through the chosen routes in the town. The devotees accompany the procession and are led by church choirs and local groups.

Cultural events

In addition to the religious events, some cultural events are also conducted, for example, Bible tableau competitions, wherein individuals are required to create pictures based on biblical stories, and two-wheeler fancy dress competitions based on religious, social, and popular themes.Lighting of the roads and business centers in the town of Pala takes place during the time of the festival.

Conclusion

After the main festive day on the 8th of December, the festivities come to an end. The statue of the Virgin Mary is then replaced in the chapel on the 9th of December, thus marking the final day of Jubilee celebrations of the year.

Controversies

In 2025, proposals to change the date of the main feast from 8 December to 7 December prompted public debate and even legal attention due to allegations of inciting inter-religious tensions.

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