The Maramon Convention

By Lal Varghese, Attorney at Law, Dallas

The Maramon Convention is the one of the most pre-eminent assembly of Christians convened every year for the proclamation of the Word of God expounded by eminent international and local erudite Christian orators. The Maramon Convention, organized by the Mar Thoma Church Evangelistic Association, an organization of the Mar Thoma Church is reported as one of the largest Christian conventions held anywhere in the world since 1896, next to Keswick Convention held in England since 1875. Preaching, Singing, Bible Study, Intercessory Prayers, Special Sessions for Women and Children etc. are the predominant features of this Asia's biggest spiritual gathering which imparts a wonderful experience for all believers.

The Maramon Convention is being conducted every year since 1896 on the vast sand bed on a wide stretch shore of river Pampa, usually in the month of February when the river bed is dry. Maramon and Kozhencherry are 16 kilometers east of Thiruvalla in Central Travancore, in Pathanamthitta District, and had been recognized as places of ancient Christianity influenced culture. About a week before the convention, the vicinity of the venue becomes a scene of great activity for the preparation of the Pandal wide enough to accommodate about 80,000-100,000 people constructed out of bamboo poles and thatched roof by coconut leaves. Large number of people streamed across temporary bridges and sandbag walkways come to the Pandal for hearing the Word of God from all over Kerala, and other parts of India, even from abroad. It is phenomenal scenery that around 100,000 people gathered in hot and humid weather in hot dry sand of the Pamba River to hear of Lord and to sing for Him. All the people well attentively participate in the singing and listen to the religious reading and discourse sitting under this temporary shelter of thatched coconut palm leaves. Convention is normally scheduled for a week, when the sand bed becomes dry to accommodate the sea of humanity.

Maramon convention songs have attracted and inspired so many people since its beginning. All of the Marthoma parishes use the Maramon Convention songs during their worship services, parish conventions, and for prayer meetings as a source for glorifying God. World famous preacher Dr. Stanly Johns was speaker of the Maramon convention for around 50 years. Other World famous Missionaries like Dr. Kagawa of Japan, Sadhu Sunder Singh, Stephen Neil, Archbishop of Canterbury etc. had preached in this convention. The centenary of the Maramon Convention was celebrated in 1995. The centenary celebration of the Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam was held in 2005 at the venue of the Maramon convention, and the gathering was known as “Childrens’ Maramon”. The Maramon Convention also displays co-operation and union between different denominations of Churches in Kerala. It fosters an ecumenical outlook, and meaning. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration and enlightenment for thousands of believers. The people in and around Maramon extend solidarity and hospitality to the people coming from far off places. For the last more than 100 years Maramon Convention has become a meeting place of culture and tradition and it became a stature of Indian Christianity.