Located around 20 km from
Alappuzha,
St Sebastian's Church at Aruthunkal is one of the main pilgrim centers in
Kerala. The church was established by Portuguese missionaries. It is well known for its 11-day festival of St Sebastian, held in the second week of January. Ettamperunal, a low profile festival, is celebrated on the eighth day after the main festival. On January 18, two days before the main festival, thousands of pilgrims bathe at the church tank and pay homage to St Sebastian.
The special offering of the church is Urulu Nercha (crawling on the ground). On this day devotees crawl on the ground from the church ground to the local beach. Special offerings of bows and arrows and images of human limbs made of gold and silver are made at the festival.
