CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY AMONG ST. THOMAS CHRISTIANS OF INDIA
Keywords:
Festival, EPIPHANY, ST. THOMAS CHRISTIANSAbstract
As seasons change, so also festivals. Truly festivals bring colour and vigour in life. They envelop and envisage the values and vision of the community. This is true of every festivity, regardless of its sphere, level, and nature.
India is a land of fasts and feasts, for Indians take note of every minute change in the world and make it an occasion to celebrate. It is a land of playfulness as well as seriousness. There is gaiety and austerity. They go hand-in-hand. So also there is unity and diversity. This is the secret of the splendour and glory that India shares from time immemorial.
References
Ephraem, Hymns on Epiphany 4: 9, 12, cited in Merja Merras, The Origin of the Celebration of the Christian Feast of Epiphany: An Ideological, Cultural and Historical Study (Univeristy of Joensuu Pubilications in the Humanities, No. 16), Joensuu: Joensuu University Press Oy, 1995, 167;
Priere du croyant selon l’anneé liturgique maronite, ed. Boutros Gemayel, vol. 1, Sundays of the Church Season of Announcement & Birth of Our Lord, Season of Epiphany, Brooklyn, New York: Diocese of Saint Maron, 1982, 662;
James L. Monks, Great Catholic Festivals, London & New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1958, 21;
Varghese Pathikulangara, “St. Thomas Christians and Popular Devotions,” Journal of Dharma 15,3 (July-September 1990), 266.
Michael Perham and Kenneth Stevenson, Welcoming the Light of Christ: A Commentary on the Promise of His Glory (Services and Prayers for the Season from All Saints to Candlemas), Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1991, 73;
Charles Payngot, Thirunaalukal (Malayalam), Kottayam: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India, 1999, 42.
P. J. Podipara, The Thomas Christians, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1970, 94.
Bless the Lord: The “Divine Praises” according to the East Syriac or Chaldeo-Indian Liturgical Heritage, ed. Varghese Pathikulangara, Kottayam: Denha Services, 1996, 71-72;
Susan Visvanathan, The Christians of Kerala: History, Belief and Ritual Among the Yakoba, New Delhi: Oxford India Paperbacks, 2001, 190-191.
