Gleaming white church steeples peeping out from the top of
vast expanses of the green canopy of palm trees is a common sight all across
the landscape of Goa. Most of these churches are the remnants of centuries of
evangelisation which bears eloquent testimony to the energy and enthusiasm of
the various monastic orders established under the Portuguese rule.
Every village and town in Goa has its own church or chapel. And throughout the year, the annual feast of some local church or the other is celebrated somewhere in Goa.
Some of these feast are very small, attended only by the local villagers. Others like the Feast of St Francis Xavier attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. And like some of the Hindu festivals which are attended by Christians, the Christians festivals too attract Hindu devotees in large numbers.
Undoubtedly, the biggest of all Christian Festivals is the Feast of St Francis Xavier or Goinchea Saibache Fest as it is known locally. St Francis Xavier is known locally as Goincho Saib or the Lord of Goa.
Celebrated in the first week of December, the feast takes place at Old Goa. Thousands of vendors set up their stalls all long the route through Old Goa and on the day of the feast, millions of visitors from all across the world make their way to Old Goa to participate in the morning mass.
There are many other feasts in Goa which have become famous around the world for their uniqueness. These include the Three Kings Feast and The Procession of Saints.
Every village and town in Goa has its own church or chapel. And throughout the year, the annual feast of some local church or the other is celebrated somewhere in Goa.
Some of these feast are very small, attended only by the local villagers. Others like the Feast of St Francis Xavier attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. And like some of the Hindu festivals which are attended by Christians, the Christians festivals too attract Hindu devotees in large numbers.
Undoubtedly, the biggest of all Christian Festivals is the Feast of St Francis Xavier or Goinchea Saibache Fest as it is known locally. St Francis Xavier is known locally as Goincho Saib or the Lord of Goa.
Celebrated in the first week of December, the feast takes place at Old Goa. Thousands of vendors set up their stalls all long the route through Old Goa and on the day of the feast, millions of visitors from all across the world make their way to Old Goa to participate in the morning mass.
There are many other feasts in Goa which have become famous around the world for their uniqueness. These include the Three Kings Feast and The Procession of Saints.
GOOD FRIDAY CELEBRATION
 |
This is one of the Christian
celebrations, observed in sincere reverence by the Goan Catholics. It takes
place at the end of the period of Lent which lasts for 40 days in February
and March, beginning with Ash Wednesday. Good Friday is followed by Easter Sunday.
A special mass and procession take place in almost every church in Goa, but the best celebration takes place in the capital city of Panaji The most spectacular celebration which takes place in Panaji, is in the square of the Church of Mary Immaculate Conception. Large crowds in formal clothes, gather in the square to participate in the mass and the Way of the Cross. The priests celebrate the mass in Konkani, describing the sufferings of Lord Jesus Christ. After the mass, the special crucifix, which until this time has been kept from view, is now uncovered before the crowd for veneration. The ceremony of the Way of the Cross takes place as a re-enactment of the path Jesus took on Mount Calvary before the Crucifixion. An image of Jesus carrying the large wooden cross is taken in a procession from the Mary Immaculate Church premises, through the nearby streets by the clergymen dressed in special clothes. The people follow the procession in two parallel lines, in front and behind the statue. The solemn procession is watched by hundreds of onlookers, Hindu and Christian standing at the roadside. A band playing suitably somber music accompanies the procession which slowly winds its way through the main streets in Panaji before returning to the church. |
The tradition of Sangodd is also seen in
the Christian festival of Saint Peter and Saint Paul held on June 29 every
year, by the fishing community particularly in Bardez taluka.
The fishermen in the villages along the northern coast of Goa celebrate the festival in the monsoon. They tie their boats together to form rafts which serve as makeshift stages. On this stages miniature models of Chapels or Churches are erected.
After a church service in the morning and a large feast, the festival of Sangodd is held. Tiatrs (local drama theatre), folk dances and music are performed before an audience who watch from the banks of the river.
The Sangodd in the villages of Candolim and Sinquerim are well known. Here the rafts carrying the models slowly make their way down the river up to the Chapel of St. Peter. At each stop, firecrackers are set off and the entertainment on the stage begins.
The origin of this celebration is unique to Goa. It is the celebration of the fisher folk community because St. Peter was a fisherman.
The fishermen in the villages along the northern coast of Goa celebrate the festival in the monsoon. They tie their boats together to form rafts which serve as makeshift stages. On this stages miniature models of Chapels or Churches are erected.
After a church service in the morning and a large feast, the festival of Sangodd is held. Tiatrs (local drama theatre), folk dances and music are performed before an audience who watch from the banks of the river.
The Sangodd in the villages of Candolim and Sinquerim are well known. Here the rafts carrying the models slowly make their way down the river up to the Chapel of St. Peter. At each stop, firecrackers are set off and the entertainment on the stage begins.
The origin of this celebration is unique to Goa. It is the celebration of the fisher folk community because St. Peter was a fisherman.
Gleaming white church steeples peeping out from the top of
vast expanses of the green canopy of palm trees is a common sight all across
the landscape of Goa. Most of these churches are the remnants of centuries of
evangelisation which bears eloquent testimony to the energy and enthusiasm of
the various monastic orders established under the Portuguese rule.
Every village and town in Goa has its own church or chapel. And throughout the year, the annual feast of some local church or the other is celebrated somewhere in Goa.
Some of these feast are very small, attended only by the local villagers. Others like the Feast of St Francis Xavier attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. And like some of the Hindu festivals which are attended by Christians, the Christians festivals too attract Hindu devotees in large numbers.
Undoubtedly, the biggest of all Christian Festivals is the Feast of St Francis Xavier or Goinchea Saibache Fest as it is known locally. St Francis Xavier is known locally as Goincho Saib or the Lord of Goa.
Celebrated in the first week of December, the feast takes place at Old Goa. Thousands of vendors set up their stalls all long the route through Old Goa and on the day of the feast, millions of visitors from all across the world make their way to Old Goa to participate in the morning mass.
There are many other feasts in Goa which have become famous around the world for their uniqueness. These include the Three Kings Feast and The Procession of Saints.
Every village and town in Goa has its own church or chapel. And throughout the year, the annual feast of some local church or the other is celebrated somewhere in Goa.
Some of these feast are very small, attended only by the local villagers. Others like the Feast of St Francis Xavier attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. And like some of the Hindu festivals which are attended by Christians, the Christians festivals too attract Hindu devotees in large numbers.
Undoubtedly, the biggest of all Christian Festivals is the Feast of St Francis Xavier or Goinchea Saibache Fest as it is known locally. St Francis Xavier is known locally as Goincho Saib or the Lord of Goa.
Celebrated in the first week of December, the feast takes place at Old Goa. Thousands of vendors set up their stalls all long the route through Old Goa and on the day of the feast, millions of visitors from all across the world make their way to Old Goa to participate in the morning mass.
There are many other feasts in Goa which have become famous around the world for their uniqueness. These include the Three Kings Feast and The Procession of Saints.
After a church service in the morning and a large feast, the festival of Sangodd is held. Tiatrs (local drama theatre), folk dances and music are performed before an audience who watch from the banks of the river.
The Sangodd in the villages of Candolim and Sinquerim are well known. Here the rafts carrying the models slowly make their way down the river up to the Chapel of St. Peter. At each stop, firecrackers are set off and the entertainment on the stage begins.
The origin of this celebration is unique to Goa. It is the celebration of the fisher folk community because St. Peter was a fisherman.
Bonderam
The feast of Bonderam is celebrated on
the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim.
The name Bonderam revolves around the involvement of flags which in itself is
an interesting story.
Frequent disputes which occurred between two wards (section of the village) - Piedalda and Sao Mathias - over property matters often led to bloody duels, and sometimes death.
Subsequently, the Portuguese introduced a system of demarcation of boundaries with flags of various nations.
The rival groups, however, knocked down the demarcation flags sometimes with stones. Today, in a parody of the past, this is commemorated with a "Fotash" flight (toy weapon of bamboo stem) and berries are used as missiles in a mock fight between rival groups to knock down an offending flag.
On the day, a carnival ambience is created. Each ward of the village has a float at the parade. Though sponsored by business houses, the floats have an unmistakable local favour.
On the day of the feast, the quaint land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panaji, is agog with excitement.
Melodious music drifts from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge.
An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.
Frequent disputes which occurred between two wards (section of the village) - Piedalda and Sao Mathias - over property matters often led to bloody duels, and sometimes death.
Subsequently, the Portuguese introduced a system of demarcation of boundaries with flags of various nations.
The rival groups, however, knocked down the demarcation flags sometimes with stones. Today, in a parody of the past, this is commemorated with a "Fotash" flight (toy weapon of bamboo stem) and berries are used as missiles in a mock fight between rival groups to knock down an offending flag.
On the day, a carnival ambience is created. Each ward of the village has a float at the parade. Though sponsored by business houses, the floats have an unmistakable local favour.
On the day of the feast, the quaint land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panaji, is agog with excitement.
Melodious music drifts from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge.
An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.
FEAST OF ST
FRANCIS XAVIER
The body of St Francis Xavier lies
in a silver casket in the Church of Bom Jesus in Goa. Ceremonies to honor his
death are performed on December 3, the day he was buried.
St Xavier was a great Catholic missionary, who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Asia.  Born in Spain on April 7, 1506, he came to India with the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa in 1543, and immediately undertook the task of influencing the Goan people. He went from street to street with a hired town crier, asking people to attend his meetings and listen to his sermons. Though he did not master the local language, he took the help of Goan scholars and translated the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Ave Maria. He baptized the inhabitants of 30 villages. Xavier commanded awesome political power. He was able to secure pensions, even for the petty princes who converted to Christianity, from the King of Portugal. To spread the message of Christ, he sailed to the Spice Islands in 1545, and then went on to Japan in 1549 for a year. His greatest success is recorded in Japan, where he converted hundreds to Christianity. After returning to India for a brief 15months, he proceeded to China, against the wishes of the Portuguese viceroy. It was in the Sancian Island, about 10-km from the mainland of China that he died of fever on December 2, 1552. Legend According to legend, some Portuguese merchants found him just before he breathed his last. They performed his last rites on the following day, and buried him in a box partly filled with unslaked lime. A few months later, a Jesuit brother disinterred the body and discovered, to his surprise, that it had not decomposed at all. He cut a finger from the body and was astonished to see blood ooze out. When this was reported to the Vatican, the title of Saint was conferred upon Xavier. The body was interred in a cemetery in Malacca for about two years before it was brought to its final resting place in Goa. Until then, even though the body had not been anointed, it was found to be only slightly affected by death. Before the mortal remains of the saint were placed in a silver casket in the Church of Bom Jesus, one hand was cut off from the body. The Healing Power Pieces of the hand were distributed to various parts of the world, under orders of the Pope. Every ten years until 1994, on the anniversary of his death, St Xavier's body would be brought out and kept in a glass case, with the feet exposed, for all to see and worship. For the exposition, people from all over India would flock to the church for a glimpse of the saint. The last exposition was held in 1994. Since the condition of the body had deteriorated visibly, it was decided by the church that the body would not be displayed anymore. There are many stalls selling trinkets and souvenirs in the fair that is held on the occasion. A wide variety of food and drinks are also available. The pilgrimage turns into a picnic for quite a few families, as they shop in the little lanes decorated with streamers. The ambience of the church site is happy and festive. |
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