Team Herald
MARGAO: As the faithful celebrate the feast of Goencho Saib, on Dec 3, the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier has already attracted 3 lakh devotees visiting the revered site over the past 12 days.
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Sources have reported that, on average, around 15,000 devotees from various communities are visiting the Exposition of the sacred relics of Goencho Saib in Old Goa.
Sunday saw an especially large influx, with nearly 1.40 lakh visitors, while Monday, December 2, reported around 85,000 devotees.
In keeping with the longstanding tradition of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, which holds the Solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier every ten years, the XVIII Exposition of the Sacred Relics of “Goencho Saib” began on November 21 and will conclude on January 5, 2025. For the next 45 days, the Sacred Relics will be on display at the See Cathedral Church for veneration by the faithful.
On January 5, 2025, the Sacred Relics will be returned to the Basilica in a solemn procession starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Solemn Eucharist to mark the end of the Exposition.
Although officials were unable to get contacted by O Heraldo regarding exact visitor numbers, sources confirmed that about 15,000 devotees are visiting the Exposition daily. Additionally, approximately 1,000 devotees, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and pregnant women, visit the Sacred Relics each day.
Sources also indicated that the number of visitors is expected to rise significantly on the feast day, December 3. The visitors not only come from across Goa but also from other parts of India and abroad, with people from various religious communities coming to venerate the relics.
