A night view of Manakudi church in Kanya Kumari district. Saint Thomas Christians from Kanyakumari are believed to be the oldest Christian community in the Indian Plains dating almost as per tradition 1900 years back. So while in the rest of Tamil Nadu, Christians are six per cent of the population but in Kanyakumari they constitute 48 per cent of the population.

The Paravars were a Tamil fisher caste who inhabited the fishery coast extending from Cape Comorin (old name of Kanya Kumari) to the isle of Mannar (Rameswaram). The Paravars plied the trade of fishing which included pearl fishing, diving for pearls to the bottom of the deep where they could stay for many hours. Now most of the people are involved in fishing while diving for pearl is just a seasonal occupation.

Tiruchchendur

Once the fishermen of the southern coast became Christians (catholics), the priests started constructing very beautiful churches in these fishing villages all along the coast – starting from Tuticorin to Kanniyakumari. These structures are huge and would easily be the envy of similar structures – in their size and grandeur. St. James Church, Manapad

Most of the traditions are localised by the community, which gives a glimpse of local Tamil culture amalgamated with Christanity . The name of the churches have local Tamil names, as this church is called Uvari Selvamada church which means all things granted. Mother Mary is wearing a shining silk saree, while Jesus is dressed as a baby girl.

A christian wedding is being held at a small church of Colachel, Tamilnadu. Church plays an important role from fixing the arrange marriages to settling the dowry amount between the family of groom and bride. The people consult church for their day to day issues and counselling related to work and family.

Father performs the prayer for the new boat of fishermen (in the left). As per the belief of community, they take new boat for sail once it is purified by the holy water. Fishermen live in a close community and neighbours enthusiastically participaite in such rituals.

St. Antony statue was washed away in Tsunami of 2014 which brought a terrible harm to the coastal areas of Tamilnadu. Now they are rebuilding the church, and two pillars have been built to mark the land.

Ishayas, 80 has been a fishermen for last 60 years. Due to his age; he has stopped going for sails. In his prayer, he speaks aloud and cries infant of mother Mary about his woes as old man, who is not able to take care of his family. Arputha Annai (Giver Mary) Church, Pallam

Apart from the big church structure, thee are smaller churches and chapel dotted on the Beach Road along the coastal area. On the way from Colachel to Kanadukathan, the wide landscape is filled with windmills.

The church is believed to have been consecrated by St. Thomas the Apostle, in circa 63 AD which makes it the oldest Church structure in the world. The beautiful wooden structure is a hidden gem in the quaint town of Thiruvithamcode in Kanyakumari district.The altar on this Syrian Orthodox church is facing west, while preists face east, towards the altar and also direction of rising sun.

The ancient carving of original structure in St. Mary's Church also includes a cross which is believed to have been carved by St. Thomas himself.

St Francis Xavier arrived in Goa and after a stay of five months in Goa, he left for the Pearl Fishery Coast taking with him three Tamil Students from the college. They arrived in Tuticorin in September 1542. Xavier lived in the sea Cave of Manapad for two years and proselytised people from this sea cave over looking Indian Ocean.

Inside the sea cave.

Fishermen during a group meeting for the annual pilgrimage to Velankani. These churches are not only a place to pray for the fishermen but also a community center where men meet to discuss about their work.

Young girls rehearsing the songs and prayers to be performed for the Sunday mass in St. Mathews Church, Pallam. While in cities we see the people are moving away from the religion, here people attend mass at least two times a day and also whenever they are free they come to pray after a tiring day at work.

The Kappal Matha Church (Our Lady of Good Health) has a form of a ship carrying an airplane. The original church of St. Mary was damaged by sea erosion and replaced by this one built in 1974.

Yesudas 62 has an astonishing facial similarity with Jesus, sips his tea in a local teashop before leaving for the sail. In everyday articles like calendar, poster, clocks are heavily adorned the symbols of Christianity.

The church sporting a fish symbol along with the cross.

Children from fishermen community playing cricket on the beach in Colachel which is one of the most popular sport in India.

The people were given Portuguese names and surnames such as Lorenzo or Fernado.

Women filling the drinking water from the well, and in the backdrop there is famous church of Managed Holy Cross Church. This is the church where St. Xavier performed his first miracle here. The church also possess a fragment of the True Cross. Pope Gregory XIII obliged the requests of local authority in 1583.

An old broken state of Jesus lying near the church in Tiruchendur. Locals are actively involved in idol making specially young women from fishing community, who look for alternate ways of making money.

The boat, houses and even vehicles on the road carry the symbol of cross on it top.