Overview of Kallikulam

Kallikulam is located in Tamilnadu, the southern most state of India. In recent times it has been one of the best known and most visited places of pilgrimage in the whole Catholic world.

From historical records, it is confirmed that people inhabited Kallikulam as early as 1700. During seventeenth Century, the Kallikulam village land was unoccupied. The Hindu Velalar community people of Kumbikulam Village, who used to go through this area, found that the land was unowned and so they possessed it. After that Hindu Nadar, Yadavar, Thevar community people came to Kallikulam and settled over there.

At that time two Hindu Nadar families of Kayamozhi village, Ponanainthan and Pooanainthan settled in Kallikulam. Over a period, more number of Nadar community people settled in Kallikulam. The leader of Nadar people was called "Nadan". Ponanainthan served as leader of the Nadar community people. People who wished to build house in Kallikulam offered Rs. 1 and betel leaves & areca nuts to "Nadan" and he allocated land to them. People built a Sudalaimadan temple ( a Hindu deity) for worship and the village leader performed religious duties.

After some time, a dispute erupted between the owners and the local inhabitants of Kallikulam, about the ownership of Kallikulam village land. A case was filed in the court in district capital Tirunelveli. In those days Vadakankulam and Anaikarai were the only Christian villages near to Kallikulam. Once in a month an European priest from Vadakankulam Parish went to Anaikarai and conducted Mass. While going from Vadakankulam to Anaikarai he went through Kallikulam and developed a good relation with Kallikulam people.

At that time, a lady with her child in her one arm and holding silver stick on the other hand frequently came to the dream of village leader and asked a particular land at Kallikulam to build house. Initially the village leader and other people thought that the lady was Amman. But later they came to know from the European priest that the lady was Mary. With the grace of Mary they won the ownership of Kallikulam village land miraculously. To fulfill her wish they build a thatched church at the land pointed out by Mary.

As most of the court expenses were spent by certain Vellaiyakon, half of the land was given to him and rest of the land were given to Nadar and Yadavar community people. Vellaiyakon was not satisfied with that arrangement and so he confronted with the people. At that time, he lost his only son and after that he gave all the land to Our Lady of Snows church. So the Hindu Yadavar community people also have emotional attachment to this church.

As Kallikulam emulated as the destination of Christians, one Savari Muthu and his cousin came with their families from Kavalkinaru village and settled in Kallikulam. At that time, people planned to renovate the old thatched church. As Savari Muthu and his family was rich, he donated a heavy amount to the renovation work. So his family people got nominated for the Manager position of the church. First Manager, one Mr.Appavu worked for 55 years as Manager. The local inhabitants were selected as parish leaders and assistants to the Manager.

After some time, to avoid theft of properties, people from nearby small villages Siluvaipatti and Pannaipanai came to Kallikulam and settled over there. After that Christian fisherman community people came to Kallikulam and settled over there.