With about a month left for the biggest religious event Goa witnesses once in every ten years, the exposition of the relics of St. Francis Xavier is expected to attract a whooping six million pilgrims and tourists. Several thousands of pilgrims will be visiting the Basilica of Bom Jesus as a build up to the exposition. However the conditions at the Basilica needs to improve soon.
Here are some suggestions. It is a known fact that tourists enter the holy Basilica dressed indecently which is not in keeping with the sanctity of the place. One may recall that shawls were provided to the inappropriately dressed tourists as part of the awareness drive which was subsequently discontinued. It is understood that the rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Savio Baretto would reintroduce the practice of providing the shawls. It must be said that in such instances there cannot be an awareness drive since the same tourists may not be visiting the shrine every time.
Tourists come from all over the country and abroad and may not be aware of the dress code hence it (providing shawls) should be an on-going process. And what about the indecently dressed male tourists? Obviously they cannot be provided with shawls also. The dress code should be applicable to tourists of both genders. Obviously if an indecently dressed tourist desires to enter the Basilica it may not be possible for him/her to go back to the hotel room and come back in decent clothes. Hence necessary instructions on the dress code for those wanting to visit the Basilica should be displayed in broad letters in every hotel of the capital city and the surrounding areas.
With so many people visiting the Basilica, security should be of prime concern. Old Goa will be under the focus of several countries of the world and probably under the terror radar also. Hence security needs to be further tightened. No tourist should be allowed to carry any baggage into the Basilica. The tourist should be made to deposit their baggage at a counter outside the Basilica for which a token should be provided. Cameras too should be deposited at the counter to be collected latter. Photography should be strictly disallowed. Post card pictures of the silver casket containing the relics of the saint as well as of the altar of the Basilica and of the entire Basilica from the outside are available for sale at the stalls outside. The tourists should be asked to put off their mobiles before entering the Basilica. This way they will not be able to click photos and selfies on their mobiles. A certain time should be allotted during which the tourists can enter the Basilica. They should be strictly prevented from entering it while the services are on.
Tourist guides seem to take the law unto themselves. Instead of allowing the outside guides, the authorities of the Basilica should have their own group of guides meant only for the churches at Old Goa who should be well trained in maintaining discipline and decorum among the tourists as is being done at the shrine of Our Lady of Vailankani at Madras.
It was reported that only six staff members control thousands of tourists who visit the Basilica everyday. This seems very disproportionate. Members of Goa Home Guards need to be drawn to provide necessary security. Last but not the least the Government should not advertise in it’s brochure the churches at Old Goa as a place of tourist interests but rather as a Holy place where the sanctity should be maintained.
(The writer is a freelancer based in Vasco. )
