MARGAO
Everything appeared quiet in and around the sprawling church square on Sunday as the Holy Spirit Church, Margao, celebrated the feast of the Holy Spirit on Sunday.
Inside, the Assistant Parish Priest of St Thomas Church, Cansaulim Fr Onasis D’Cruz was the main celebrant at the feast mass. A total of six priests, including the Holy Spirit Parish Priest Fr Amandio Valladares, participated in the mass behind closed doors in view of the curfew.
With the curfew extended further, everything appeared quiet outside as well. One could not find any movement inside the church compound or outside, barring the vehicular traffic on the adjoining main road.
At the nearby Old Market, which used to bustle with activity during the week-long fair, popularly known as Purumentachem fest fair, coinciding with the feast, the entire atmosphere was subdued.
Only a handful of vendors were seen selling dry fish and Goan sol (dried kokum) at the Old Market on Sunday morning. By noon, even these vendors disappeared after the police made their appearance.
This year, fishermen from Colva, who comprise majority of the vendors participating in the Purumentachem fest, had decided to stay away due to the curfew and also fearing police action.
