Asia's biggest Christian convention begins in Kerala
Maramon, India, 10 February 2014: Asia's biggest Christian convention got underway
in the Southern Indian state of Kerala on Sunday with Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior
metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church, leading the opening worship.
The 119th
edition of the week-long meet, called Maramon Convention and organised by the Mar
Thoma Evangelistic Association, got underway on the river bed of Pampa.
Maramon
is on the banks of the Pampa river, about 20 km from Thiruvalla. The convention takes
place on the river bed under a sprawling temporary shed, made of coconut leaves, which
will seat about a lakh of people.
The Mar Thoma community has nearly a million
believers and for any devout Mar Thomaite, a visit to the convention is a must. Christians
from other denominations also attend the congregation.
Each day will have three
separate sessions for women and men and a series of prayer and devotional music sessions.
A
large number of Kerala politicians also attend the convention. With Lok Sabha polls
around the corner, a huge influx of politicians is expected this year.
Union
Minister Sashi Tharoor, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J.Kurien (who belongs to the
Mar Thoma church) and state Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph were present at the
inaugural session. Source: UCAN