TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: The feast of Our Lady of Milagres, who is known to cure ailments, was celebrated at St Jerome’s Church, Mapusa with grand festivities and religious fervour on Monday. After the concelebrated feast mass in the morning, the procession of Mother Mary was taken out in which large number of devotees participated. The festivities are spread over three days, interspersed with several cultural activities.
Part of the devotion that surrounds the feast of Milagres Saibinn is the belief that she can and will cure ailments, causing many of her devotees across communities to make vows, pour coconut oil over the statue and offer wax figurines as tributes.
The Shirgao Zatra that is celebrated along similar time-frames is considered to be the celebration of the Hindu deity Lairaee, the sister of Milagres Saibinn. Pg 7
