Team Herald
Curtorim : Every August 20, the idyllic village of Maina celebrates a very unique festival called ‘ Khandi Khuris feast and the annual feast is celebrated with typical religious fervour.
On Wednesday, there was a never ending serpentine queues and one could see long queues people which was almost a kilometer long and crossed the bandh near Maina church. Brass bands present added to the religious fervor and traditional revelry in which the festival is celebrated.
As the tradition goes here every year the Parish priest with prayers and blessings the work on the Sluice gatetakes place as is the convention. A miraculous cross which is present is visited by scores of devotees every year and prayers are offered. these devottes come with flowers and candles.
The Rosary is counted on Rosary beads and various people are measured on coconut leaf one strip is being folded of a inch.
The main highlight of this feast is the Holy Rosary which is carried out even the next day. Holy Masses were held at St.Rita Maina Church also on this day. Speaking to Herald one of the devotee’s Mr.Leonard Dsouza from Nessai described this feast as a memorable one and that it was a great blessings to farmers of this place to help them grow a bountiful crop. the sluice gate certainly helped them in their aim of growing paddy with natural irrigation.
Locals pointed that on August 20, the sluice gates are blocked in order to store water in the beautiful pond which in turn serves as a reservoir to cultivate the rabi crop in the nearby fields. After the mass in the St. Rita’s church the faithful go in a procession down to the spot. A litany is sung and prayers offered. After that it is followed by lunch. Villagers added that there are many people who visit the cross and some include childless couple who after making their vows at the cross have returned with their infant and these mothers are allowed to break the queue if they wished so. many other devotees spoken.
