CANACONA: Local MLA and Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes along with the petitioner to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday met the State Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and requested him to restart the two feasts on Anjediva Island, which have been
kept in abeyance since 2004.
It may be recalled that a Canacona septuagenarian and social activist Natividade D’Sa had petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in June this year to intervene and restart the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Springs (Broatas) on February 2 and St Francis de Assisi on October 4.
Taking cognisance of the petition, the PMO had sent a letter to the State Chief Secretary to seek more details regarding the ownership of these Catholic religious shrines located on the Anjediva Island, which have been under the occupation of Naval authorities after the island was gifted to the Defence Ministry following a request.
According to historians, the feasts were held annually since these two shrines were built nearly 500 years ago by Portuguese.
The devotees claimed that the before signing the deal, State government had laid a precondition that the navy will allow the faithful to celebrate the two feasts every year.
“But for security reasons the naval base at Binaga-Karwar stopped the two feasts since 2000 only to restart in 2004 and stop yet again till date.
An 800-metrelong causeway has linked the island to the mainland.
Following PMO’s letter this month to the State Chief Secretary seeking details of the two religious structures on the island, the Catholic community of Goa and North Kannada are sensing a hope that they would be allowed to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Springs Church on February 2 next year.
Speaking to Herald, Canacona MLA and Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes, said hundreds of people have been visiting in his office at Canacona following a Herald report on the letter to the CS in its October 13 edition wherein they the locals urged the legislator to use his good office to convince the authorities to allow the celebration of these feasts.
“Today, I along with Natividade D’Sa, the petitioner and Mathew Estrocio met the Chief Secretary of Goa Parimal Rai, IAS in his chamber at Secretariat, Porvorim with regards to the request of the devotees to restart the celebration of feasts on Anjediva Island. Rai has assured us that after collecting the required information, he will forward the report to the PMO very soon.
We hope to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Springs Church on February 2, next year,” Fernandes added.
