MARCEL: Driven by their indomitable spirit and immense devotion for Goencho Saib, over 100 devotees from neighbouring Karnataka State, walked for five days and covered a distance of 130 km passing through rough hilly terrain, only to attend the St Francis Xavier’s Feast at Old Goa, held on Monday.
In fact, this has been the tradition for last 31 years. The devotees who came from Sangargali village, located in Khanapur taluka of Belagavi district in Karnataka, were accorded a grand welcome at a church in Marcel, on Sunday.
The procession commenced from Sangargali and reached the Marcel Church on Sunday to participate festival on Monday. Parish priest Fr John Fernandes, former sarpanch and panch member Francis Lobo and others welcomed the devotees, who arrived for the feast.
The devotees said “it’s the faith” that gives them the strength to undertake this journey every year.
One devotee said that for the past three decades, devotees from Belagavi have kept the tradition of participating in the Old Goa novena alive and the number of pilgrims have increased every year. After attending the feast of St Francis Xavier, they will return to their native places.
