"Darshana Sabha"- An oldest Catholic group in Kerala

Have you seen the Malayalam movie “Amen”? where they have dressed in an off-white gown and red capes? Darshana sabha, to me, was seeing that alive.

We, as a family, were invited for this ceremony, where a person is appointed as the leader of this prayer group called “Darshana Sabha”. This organization is called “Darshana sabha”, they are a part of the Roman Catholic church in Kerala. I had never heard of this before but, this is one of the oldest groups in Kerala Christianity. They are dedicated to Mother Mary and they follow the old traditions to date.

Kottekad is a region in Thrissur district and has one of the oldest churches in Thrissur. The church festival there is still a bit different than other normal churches. Later on, I came to know that “Darshana Sabha” group members are responsible for some of the activities during the church festivals/Perunnal in this parish and that is being followed for years.

In the church, the whole group came in this costume, white robe, red cape, and a floral crown. Even the priests who were conducting the service also gets a crown, a different one though.

All the group members formed two lines, like a procession, they went around the grotto near the church and came inside the church. The march ends and a flag is hoisted. Inside the church, Darshana sabha members stood in the middle in two lines, wherein normal Sunday masses people don’t stand there, and the prayer started.

The prayers are in old Malayalam, which we don’t use anymore. But, it felt different hearing that. Like how we hear an audio tape from the past. In the middle of the ceremony, the priest cames down and keep this special crown on the newly elected leader.

A candle is also lit and given to the leader of the group. The prayers end with a blessing and everyone leaves the church to attend the gathering of this group. Next is the small gathering where they read reports and announce the group activities.

Even this announcement is done in the old Malayalam and read by one of the group members. They have the group meeting once a month and that day they come in this uniform and attend the mass.

There is a treat for everyone attending the ceremony arranged by the family of this newly elected person. After the report and the announcement, everyone proceeds to have a good time and spend time talking to everyone else.

There is a Malayalam movie, Amen which is shot in a fictional town of “Kumaramkari”. The storyline in the movie takes you through the old times in Kerala. And attending a ceremony makes you have the same feeling. The old times, language, costume and everything. It was a different experience and a piece of new information that this group exists in many other churches and are connected to each other.

Over the years we have changed a lot in the way we dress, pray and do everything. Seeing these traditions and customs feels good and different. Today, the old church of Kottekad is torn down and building a new one with modern architecture. Maybe these small groups like Darshana sabha are the few things that will remind of the past. Maybe that is what makes them stand apart.

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://elsaenroute.com/darshana-sabha-an-oldest-catholic-group-in-kerala/

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