The residents of Raia will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Snows popularly known as Konnsanchem Fest on August 5 at Our Lady of Snows Church. The cutting of first corn takes place on the occasion which is offered to Our Lady of Snows. Most churches cut their first corn on August 15, the feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary to heaven.
On the occasion of Konnsanchem Fest, the locals seek blessings of the Almighty for a bountiful harvest season. People from all religions, throng to Raia to seek the blessings of Our Lady of Snows.
After the second Mass, the Confraria members proceed to the Saibinni Konngi with the Parish Priest of Raia, who recites a prayer and sprinkles holy water. The priest uses the silver sickle to cut the first corn, and then, the first sheaves are taken to the church in a procession to offer to the Almighty. The blessed sheaves of paddy are sent to each house in the village by the Parish Pastoral Council members to place them on their altars.
Founded in 1699, the Our Lady of Snows Church, also known as Neves Saibinnichi Igorz caters to the spiritual needs of the people from Bacbhat, Santemoll, Tembi, Uzro and Manora. The original church was the Our Lady of Snows Church, at Rachol. Earlier, this was also the part of Raia where ancient Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol is also housed in the Fort of Rachol. The increasing population forced the government to divide the village and separate parish was also formed by the Archdiocese of Goa. It is said that the church was built under the supervision of priests from Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome having special devotion to Our Lady of Snows.
This year, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas will be main celebrant at the high mass.
“The feast reminds us of our ancestors who loved the land, fields and put in great efforts to cultivate the fields,” said Krishna from Raia.
“This feast unites friends. Let the blessings of the first corn be the blessings for everyone. We greet each other, which is a true example of communal harmony too,” said Suresh Satarkar from Raia.
“On the feast day, ‘Alvarado’ is played early in the morning by the brass band comprising village youth outside the church and passes through the different wards of the village,” said Trevor, a youth from Raia.The village has Our Lady of Monserrate Chapel, Pedro Arrupe Institute, St Francis Xavier’s Ashram, SVD Seminary, Kalyani Bhavan, St Theresa Convent, Our Lady of Snows High School, St Sebastian Chapel, St Francis Xavier Chapel, Our Lady of Bomparte Chapel, Holy Family Chapel, St Khuris and St Sebastian Cross to name a few.
Fr Januario Da Costa, parish priest has been guiding his parishioners and various communities for the feast celebration.
“Neves Saibinn Mai has given Raikars the privilege to celebrate this feast in a unique way,” said Rusada Dias of Ambora. “In the good old days, after the corn was blessed and cut by the priest we used to pack some of this corn in envelopes and post it to our friends residing in various parts of the country,” recalled Domnic Quadros. A large fair with sweets, earthen pots, vases and other items attracts a massive crowd.
