Niranam festival

Niranam-festival Of all the places hallowed in the annals of Christianity in India, Niranam holds pride of place. In social, cultural, literary and political matters, this small village has kept up its own distinctive, pristine traditions. Niranam was a sea port hundreds of years ago and had trade relations with the Roman Empire and the Middle-East.

According to geologists, due to some major geographical changes, the sea was drawn back from the place. A proof for this is the presence of beach sand around its areas though there's not a sea nearby.The Niranam perunnal is celebrated to honour saint Mar Thoma Sleeha.

Niranam is mentioned as a trade centre in the different writings of earlier foreign writers which should have been the reason for Saint Thomas to visit this small village. The fame of Niranam must have reached Syria and weighed most with St. Thomas. He is believed to have visited Niranam in 53AD, erected a crucifix, founded and built a church on the site.

The saint founded eight churches which arre called "ezhara pallikal", meaning seven and a half churches. The churches were situated in Thituvathamkode (the half church), Kokkamangalam, Kollam, Kodungallur, Kottakkayal, Palayoor, Nilackal and Niranam. The main religious festival is in honour of the Holy Mother on August 15. Special mass is held on that day. The birthday of St. Mary is celebrated on a grand scale on 8th September.

The feast of St. Thomas is celebrated on 3rd July.