KOCHI: The bars in the front door of the Vypin Malipuram Peter Sliha Chapel are full of locks. New locks come in every day. It is believed that if the key is locked in front of the chapel and later deposited in the treasury, the saint will guard us.

People offer locks for various reasons like for completion of their house construction, for job opportunities, for disease cure and even for successful love life. People from all religions and communities come here for this offering. Prayers are only offered once a week.

This chapel was built centuries ago but nobody knows when this offering really started. The vicar of the parish, Fr. Ronnie Manakkal said that the prayer is related to the story of Peter who was Jesus’disciple. It is believed that whatever Peter binds in heaven will be bound on earth, and whatever he opens on earth will be opened in heaven. Its symbolizes the two keys in hand.

The chapel has a half-open door that allows one to see the saint's image and pray. The abyss is full of locks. Although a special bar has been set up, the devotees will be satisfied only if it is locked in front of the saint. When the bar becomes full, the caretakers remove the barriers at the door by cutting the locks.