Sri Lanka, March 2 -- The annual feast of St.Anthony at Kachchatheevu drew an unprecedented gathering this year, with authorities estimating an attendance of 13,000 pilgrims from Sri Lanka and India, far exceeding the initial projection of 8,000.

The event, jointly organised by the Jaffna District Secretariat, the Sri Lanka Navy and the Jaffna Diocese, with the cooperation of the Consulate General of India in Jaffna and other stakeholders, commenced on the evening of February 27 with the ceremonial flag hoisting at around 4.30 p.m. The observances continued with the recitation of the Rosary and the traditional procession carrying the Cross around the shrine precincts. The feast concluded on the morning of February 28 with the Holy Mass a...