FESTA DE NOSSA SENHORA DE MILAGRES The Parish Church of Mapuca celebrates the feast of Nossa Senhora de Milagres, on Monday, the 1st May'06. The church has an exquisite Baroque façade, three altars, and the main one is dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles and is richly carved, as is the pulpit. The ceiling is intricately patterned with strips of wood. The image of Nossa Senhora de Milagres (Our Lady of Miracles) is held in great veneration, by Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike.
The third Monday after Easter marks the feast of Nossa Senhora de Milagres, and is the object of devotion for Catholics, Hindus and Muslims alike. All devotees revere Nossa Senhora de Milagres, as a source of grace and supernatural favours. Hundreds of Hindus come to venerate the statue alongside Catholics, offering flowers and wax figures at the foot of the statue, expressing their devotion and gratitude for such things as being cured of a sickness, or blessed with a child. Hindus specially attribute the feast as being a source of miracles. Devotees believe that the statue protected the town and its people from the plague, Catholic and Hindus alike gathered on Monday, the Feast Day to attend novena prayers and even the feast Day Mass, For the entire taluka of Mapuca, Nossa Senhora de Milagres, popularly know as "Milagarichem Fest" is a major event. Not only the Catholics, but a large section of the Hindu community also visits the Mapuca church to pay homage to Our Lady. On the day following the feast, one sees long queues of Hindu devotees, particularly women with small children or with wax offerings, in thanksgiving for favours received or to make vows. For a week before, vendors and roadside stalls lined a full kilometer of the way to the shrine, creating a fair-like atmosphere. A large fair of furniture, toys and "kaddio-boddio-khajem" (traditional Goan sweets) that spreads along the sides of the two busy roads flanking the church. On the feast day i.e.1st May,06 Masses shall be celebrated every hour beginning at 5 a.m. till 9 a.m. The Solemn high Mass, to be celebrated at 10 a.m., will be presided over by the Rector of Rachol Seminary, Rev. Fr. Denis Fernandes and the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Amandio Valladares, and Asstt. Parish Priests Fr. Joseph Estrocio and Fr. Rodson and other priests. As every year the Mapuca Parishioners organise the Milagres Fete 2006, which is on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd May, in the premises of the Church. It is one of the Fete that is sought after by all; the young aswell the old. People from all over come and enjoy the 3 days which are fun-packed for one and all. There are stalls for different games, of your choice, live band music to keep you rocking, a canteen to tempt your taste buds and Ice-creams stalls to cool the hot temperatures. Arlette Azavedo _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)