Attur Festival, Udupi 2025

Attur Festival, Udupi 2025

The Attur Festival, celebrated annually at Saint Lawrence Shrine Basilica in Karkala, is a major religious event from January 25 to 29, 2025. This traditional festival features Novena prayers, cultural activities, and a feast, drawing devotees from near and far to honor St. Lawrence and seek blessings through rituals such as lighting candles and making offerings.

The Attur Festival, or Attur Jatre, is an annual religious and cultural event held at the Saint Lawrence Shrine Basilica in Karkala, Karnataka. This revered Roman Catholic church, built in 1759, is known for its miraculous stories and deep spiritual significance. The festival, celebrated from January 25 to 29, 2025, honors St. Lawrence, the patron saint of the church, and is marked by Novena prayers, a grand feast, and various devotional rituals.

Historical Context and Tradition:

The origins of the Attur Festival trace back to the post-captivity era when Christians, who had returned from Tipu Sultan’s captivity, were left landless and homeless. Devoted to St. Lawrence, they began celebrating the annual feast during the last week of January, a tradition that has continued to this day. The event was designed to allow both local and distant devotees to visit the Shrine, ensuring a large turnout for the festival’s sacred rituals.

Significance of the Festival:

The Attur Festival is not only a religious event but also a community celebration. The primary rituals include:

  • Novena Prayers: Devotional prayers leading up to the main feast days.
  • Lighting Candles: A special tradition where visitors light candles, making wishes and fulfilling vows. It is believed that lighting a candle during the festival will grant one’s wish.
  • Holy Rituals and Liturgical Celebrations: These rituals include Mass services, offerings, and the fulfillment of vows made by the faithful.

Cultural and Spiritual Highlights:

  • Devotional Offerings: Devotees make offerings to St. Lawrence, including lighting candles in the Shrine, a symbolic act of faith and devotion.
  • Vibrant Celebrations: The festival is filled with local cultural performances, traditional music, and community gatherings.
  • Feast and Community: The festival culminates in a grand feast, bringing together people from various faiths, all united in their devotion to St. Lawrence.

Why Attend?

Attending the Attur Festival is an opportunity to experience a unique blend of spirituality, tradition, and cultural heritage. The event offers a chance for pilgrims and visitors to pay homage to St. Lawrence, participate in meaningful rituals, and be part of a deeply-rooted tradition that has been celebrated for centuries.

Make your way to Saint Lawrence Shrine Basilica in Karkala this January and be part of the sacred Attur Festival 2025!