TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
BELGAUM: September 10 is a special day for Goan settlers in Ajgaon, a hamlet in Sindhudurg district located about 12 kms north of Goa’s border.
Ajgaonkars, who take pride about their ancestral roots in Bardez taluka, will celebrate the silver jubilee of the Vailankanni shrine located in the premises of the historical St Francis Xavier Church here on Tuesday.
Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Baretto, himself of Goan origin, will be the main celebrant at the feast mass and will also take part in the traditional procession that will pass across the Shiroda market and the lush green paddy fields.
“Apart from devotes in Sindhudurg and neighbouring districts, many Goans are expected to take part in the silver jubilee celebrations,” said Fr Andrew D’Mello said.
The silver jubilee celebrations commenced with novenas from September 1.
“It was Bishop Allwyn who, as a priest, started this devotion in 1988 and since then, the shrine has gained devotion of pilgrims from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra and Goa. Apart from Christians, a large number of pilgrims belonging to different faiths visit the shrine to venerate Our Lady of Vailankanni,” said Edwin D’Souza, a Konkani activist and founder of ‘Sindhukalazomo’, a Konkani cultural outfit.
Catholics from Ajgaon are basically farmers and fishermen, but a large number left Ajgaon and have settled in Mumbai, Pune and Goa.
Bishop Allwyn has taken special interest and efforts in inculcating the spirituality among the lay faithful of Ajgaon.
Apart from spirituality, people of Ajgaon have been striving to retain Konkani language and culture that their ancestors have brought from Goa.
