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CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS
IN GOA :
Gleaming white church
steeples peeping out from the top of vast expanses of the green canopy
of palm trees is a common sight all across the landscape of Goa. Most of
these churches are the remnants of centuries of evangelisation which
bears eloquent testimony to the energy and enthusiasm of the various
monastic orders established under the Portuguese rule.
Every village and town
in Goa has its own church or chapel. And throughout the year, the annual
feast of some local church or the other is celebrated somewhere in Goa.
Some of these feast
are very small, attended only by the local villagers. Others like the
Feast of St Francis Xavier attract thousands of visitors from all over
the world. And like some of the Hindu festivals which are attended by
Christians, the Christians festivals too attract Hindu devotees in large
numbers.
Undoubtedly, the
biggest of all Christian Festivals is the Feast of St Francis Xavier or
Goinchea Saibache Fest as it is known locally. St Francis Xavier is
known locally as Goincho Saib or the Lord of Goa.
Celebrated in the
first week of December, the feast takes place at Old Goa. Thousands of
vendors set up their stalls all long the route through Old Goa and on
the day of the feast, millions of visitors from all across the world
make their way to Old Goa to participate in the morning mass.
There are many other
feasts in Goa which have become famous around the world for their
uniqueness. These include the Three Kings Feast and The Procession of
Saints.
See Also
Christian Festivals Celebrated in Goa:
( Feast of Three Kings
| Bonderam | Christmas | Good Friday | Colva Fama | Margao Feast |
Procession of Saints | Konsachem Fest | São João | Touxeachem Fest |
Feast of St Francis Xavier | Feast of St Peter Paul )

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