“Does this church open? Or is it always closed like the chapel at the hilltop?”asks Bhola Yadav, a daily wage worker, pointing towards the St Thomas Church, Cansaulim. This observation is quite common among tourists or new migrants in the state. Do you also think that ? Well the reason for that are the covid-19 protocols? Or maybe not.
Prashal Dessai, a police inspector - Verna
said, “Villagers are attending the mass in a scheduled manner. We have not had
an opportunity to issue a single challan. The parish has taken the situation
very seriously and people are all following it well.”
“We used to run and reach the hilltop
within five minutes. My friends and I were the permanent late comers, that’s
why I remember us panting during every mass sitting on the last row. It was a
phenomenal experience for all of us to see some white people with their huge
fancy cameras” said Francisco Xavier Mesquita, remembering days gone by.
Comparing it to the present he said, “I have seen this culture spreading from a
small part of Goa to all the corners of the world. Every year we have been
improving and the biggest achievement for us would be conducting this fest even
during the pandemic.”
Linford Correia, one of the Gaonkars of Arrosim said, “The
attention along with the special treatment you receive as a king is like a once
in a lifetime opportunity. When I became a king, the best moment was when
people were waiting to see me. Some came running to take blessings whereas
others were clicking my picture. I was there in the next day’s newspaper and
the local television channels as well.” Talking about the experience about the
horse ride, he said, “Those ten minutes were the most dangerous ten minutes of
my life, when I was taken down from the hilltop.” He further added that during
the fest of 2018, the horse was not ready to even carry the king at the cliff,
so the family members had to carry him till they reached a flat surface.
Early in the morning, there were a few aged ladies walking
through the frost in the fields. One of them was Inas Borges, who is seventy
years old. She said, “I am going to attend the mass. My ward has been allotted
this time only. I remember going there, holding my mother’s hand because I was
really scared of the king that time. Similar to that, now my grandchild is
repeating the same thing with me here.” With tears in her eyes, she said that
she felt like she was reliving her childhood. It was God’s will that she got to
revisit the past and that is what is making the feast this time special for
her.
Talking about the customs and the traditions in much more
details, Linford Correia said, “Each of the three villages, i.e. Cuelim,
Cansaulim and Arrosim have to select one king each, who will be part of the
procession. The kings are selected from only the native families, i.e. the
Gaonkar of their villages. Even the flag bearers are also from a specific
Goankar family only.” He added that the tradition is carried forward with
generation after generation.
“Religion was never a barrier. All the villagers here consider
our Lady of Remedies as the goddess of the village. I remember climbing the
hills with my entire family for the first time. We went for all the novenas
also.” said Saurav Sattarker, a resident of Murdi, Cansaulim. He added that due
to the protocols they were not allowed for the mass, but he went up during the
novenas to light the candle. He said, “If you would have attended the four o
clock mass, then there were a few Hindus and Muslims who attended it even now.”
This year, the Parish of Cansaulim had a special arrangement for
Covid control. Julius Mesquita said, “Due to the rise in cases and the growing
risks of the third wave, the parish had decided to conduct the feast only
within the village. The Christians of the village were issued a pass for entry
to the chapel. And also the tradition of wearing of the crown by the regular
public to get blessings was not practised.” He further added that no breach in
protocols was entertained.
Despite being aware of the situation on the ground and the
strictness in the implementation of the protocols, there were people arriving
from different parts of Goa. Joseph Fernandes, a resident of St Estevam Island,
travelled all the way just to attend the fest. He has been attending it for the
last fifty years of his life. He said, “I have been coming here every year. It
is one of the places where I feel most connected to God. I am not allowed to go
to the chapel but that’s fine. I can meet the kings in front of the church.”
There were a few tourists loitering in the area too. They were
surprised after seeing the culture of the village. Jyoti Jain, from Jaipur
said, “I never thought that Goa had anything apart from beautiful beaches and
happening nightlife. This was a completely different experience for me.” Jayant
Jain, her husband said, “I was always curious about the traditions of Goa. We
have lived in the area which was looted by the British, but seeing Goa, I have
an amount of respect for the Portuguese now. They have not only taken things
but also have given back a lot to Goa. This is one of the existing examples.”
Shawna Correia, a resident of Cansaulim said, “Three kings
chapel is known for healing the problems of people. The only wish I have from
our lady of remedies is to give us a remedy for the pandemic and bring
everything back to normal.”
Similar celebrations were held in Reis Magos and Chandor. The
Feast of Epiphany or Holy magi (Three kings) is the main feast of the parish of
of Reis Magos, It is the only church in Goa that is dedicated to the Holy Magi.
Fr Edson Fernandes parish priest of Our Lady of Succour and Good Success, Pirni
Nagoa Verna was the main celebrant for the feast mass besides other
concelebrants. Fr Orlando Marques Parish priest of Holy Magi church Reis Magos
and Fr Samuel Rebeiro. In his homily Fr Edson stressed on the 3 kings namely
Gasper, Melchior and Balthazar from Arabia, Europe and Africa visited Infant
Jesus and they were guided by the star till they reached the manger at
Bethlehem. They gifted gold, frankincense and myrrh and, these gifts were an
allusion to a vision of Isaiah to the nations and tribute to Jerusalem. Fr
Edson further said these 3 kings came from far to worship lord Jesus and then
propagated Jesus. He requested the faithful to emulate 3 Kings.
At
Chandor the feast of Our Lady of Bethlehem and the Three Kings was celebrated
on 6th January at Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Chandor.