VASCO/CALANGUTE: The feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings Feast was celebrated at Our Lady of Remedios Chapel, Cuelim, with traditional pomp and religious fervour on Friday.
Every year, the Feast of the Epiphany and the Feast of Our Lady of Remedios are celebrated on January 6 In Cansaulim. Three boys, one each from the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim represent the Three Wise Men who went to visit baby Jesus with gifts. It is believed that on this day, the Three Wise Men, Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, presented the infant with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Naashon Jacques from Cuelim, Nathaniel Gracias from Cansaulim and Gibson Gomes from Arossim had the privilege to represent the Three Kings during the feast this year. A large number of devotees flocked to the chapel to seek the blessings of Our Lady of Remedios and also
attended the solemn feast Mass.
Chaplain Fr Ave Maria Afonso said that as per the feast tradition, the three young boys representing the Three Kings arrived on white horses via three different paths and met some distance away from the chapel. Then they proceeded to the chapel, followed by a procession of ushers and devotees, accompanied by a band. The boys return as transformed youngsters, after deciding to follow Jesus Christ, he said. Sherif Jacques, a police officer and a devotee said that the Three Kings Feast has been celebrated in the village for more than 500 years now. He said that this year, his nephew Naashon was chosen to represent one of the kings and these quaint traditions have been faithfully carried on by the villagers of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim.
The three boys dressed as the Kings offer their gifts to the chapel . The white horses were brought from Kolhapur for the festival, he added.
The Three Kings feast is celebrated on the 13th day of Christmas and marks the end of the Christmas festivities after the Feast, said Jacques.
The Three Kings Feast was also celebrated at Chandor and Reis Magos on Friday. In Chandor, the feast of the three kings is celebrated along with the Feast of Our Lady of Bethlehem, at the scenic church atop the hillock in the village. There was a blessing on vehicles after every Mass.
The feast of the Holy Magi was also celebrated at Reis Magos Church in Bardez taluka. During the feast Mass, three men dressed as the Three Kings took part in the solemn celebrations. The main celebrant of the Feast Mass was Dr Fr Soccoro Mendes. In his sermon, he narrated the event of the visit of the Three Kings and the significance of the giftsthey bore.
