Pullichira Church, Kollam (Quilon), Kerala India

 The famous Marian pilgrim centre, Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception also known as Pullichira Church is located at a distance of 12kms from Kollam. The shrine, situated in scenic surroundings on the banks of Pullichira lake in Mayyanad Panchayath, is the most ancient diocese of Kollam. The history of the church dates back to 16th century AD. The original church was built by the Portuguese in 1572, and a miraculous statue of our lady was installed at the top of the beautifully carved wooden altar. It is believed that this statue was washed ashore in a box. In 1974, a new church was built here, preserving the altar. The church was declared a Marian pilgrimage shrine in 2004.

This church was founded by the disciples of St. Thomas the apostle. The history of Pullichira Mariam devotion dates back to 16 th century AD. The sailors of a Portuguese ship, who were saved from a perilous sea storm through the intercession of our lady had put the statue of virgin Mary in their possession in a box and floated it on the Arabian sea with a resolve to build a church where the box with the statue was washed ashore. It was this miraculous statue that reached the shores of pullichira around 1520 AD. The faithful people of pullichira gladly placed the statue in the then existing small church. Later the Portuguese arrived here and built a church in 1572 AD with a beautifully carved wooden altar, at the top of which they installed the miraculous statue of our lady. The same is preserved intact in this new church built in 1974. The parish was established in 1627 AD. The church was declared a Mariam pilgrimage shrine on December 8th 2004 by Rt. Rev Dr. Stanley Roman, the bishop of Kollam.

Pullichira Church Perunnal formally commenced with the flag hoisting in the morning at 8 am on 8th December, 2011. It began with the church authorities receiving the relics of Saint Alphonsa, a torch and the flag brought from Bharananganam.

Thousands of Devotees participate in this annual Marian pilgrimage from Dec 1 – 31 taking place at the Pullichira Immaculate Conception Church, Kollam. The church was declared a Marian pilgrimage shrine in 2004 by Pope John Paul II

The feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, held every year during the second and third week of December, attracts thousands of devotees irrespective of their faith and religion. This is a 10 day long festival and during the last three days of the feast, the miraculous statue of Mother Mary is brought down from her position above the alter and taken around the church in a procession. The procession will be held at 6.30 p.m. on December 17th.

The main feast will be on December 18 & 19 and Rev. Stanley Roman, Kollam Bishop will be the chief celebrant at the pontifical high mass.

The feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception church, held every year during the second and third week of December, attracts thousands of devotees irrespective of their faith and religion. This is a 10 day long festival and during the last three days of the feast, the miraculous statue of Mother Mary is brought down from her position above the alter and taken around the church in a procession. Besides this, other feasts celebrated here are St. Sebastian's feast (January), Lourdes Matha feast (February), St. Joseph's feast (March), St. Antony's feast (June), Carmelite Matha feast (September) and Fathima Matha feast (October).