Kottayam, Thursday, August 12, 2010: President Pratibha Patil arrived in Kochi on Thursday on a three day visit to Kerala. The President was received by State Governor, R S Gavai and other dignatries at the nearby Nedumabssery airport.

After a brief halt, she left for Kottayam by a Naval helicopter.
The President will be attending functions at Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram and Alapuzha during her stay. Ms. Patil will address the valedictory of the birth centenary celebrations of St. Alphonsa, the second saint from India to be canonised by the Vatican, at Bharananganam in Kottayam this evening.

Alphonsa is also the first Indian woman saint. Saint Gonsalo Garcia was declared saint in the 19th century.

On August 13, she will dedicate to the nation the ’Lotus of Peace’ structure of the Shantigiri Ashram at Thiruvananthapuram and attend another function in the State capital. The President will inaugurate the Nehru Trophy boat race at Punnamada lake in Alapuzha on August 14, before leaving for Delhi from Kochi.