MARGAO: The ‘Fama’, celebrated the day before the Novenas leading up to the Feast of Colva’s Our Lady of Merces Church, witnessed tens of thousands of devotees throng the seaside village seeking healing, and the blessings of Menino (Infant) Jesus, on Monday. The annual Fama, which is unique as it is more popular and grandly celebrated than the main Feast, and attracts devotees across the boundaries of religion, caste and community, was held after a gap of two years, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

During the Fama, devotees walk to the church in a sombre procession, and queue up to kiss the Menino Jesus statue, which is believed to be miraculous, and offers hope to the thousands of sick people who travel great distances to venerate it, as well as childless couples who hope to be blessed with children. The statue, decked out in golden splendor, is brought down from its special altar for the Fama every year.

“Yes, Fama is known for the testimonies of married couples, as we can notice several couples walking down to Colva to thank or seek blessings from the Infant Jesus for the gift of a child. We have witnessed such miracles in our own family,” said Christopher Fernandes from Colva.

“The devotees of Menino Jesus are blessed with good health, prosperity and happiness,” said Menino D’Costa from Curtorim, who along with his family members took part in the Fama on Monday.

Walking with the procession, a lady named Roshni Desai, enthusiastically expressed her faith in Infant Jesus. “I, along with my family members, have never skipped to seek blessings from the miraculous statue in the past 20 years,” she said.

To streamline the massive influx of devotees, the feast organisers erected a temporary wooden footbridge across the road to the Church, to allow free passage to two-wheelers under it.

The church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora das Merces was built as a chapel by the Jesuits in 1630 and was elevated to the status of a church on May 28, 1635, along with the churches of Seraulim and Betalbatim.