VASCO
Three children riding on horses to depict the Three Kings continued the tradition to mark the Holy Epiphany, as the Feast of Our Lady of Remedios was celebrated with great fervour at Our Lady of Remedios Chapel in Cuelim on Saturday morning.
A large number of devotees from different parts of the State participated in the Feast Mass and the other masses on Saturday.
Neil Xavier from Cuelim, Hayden Figueiredo from Cansaulim and Reev D’Costa from Arossim had the privilege to represent the Three Kings at the Feast.
Speaking to reporters, Cansaulim Parish Priest Fr Ave Maria Afonso said that as per the tradition, three young children, one each from villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim, would represent the three kings and arrive on horses amidst musical processions.
“The three wise kings who had come following the guiding star to worship Lord Jesus on the Feast of Holy Epiphany arrive on horses through three different paths and meet at some distance away from the chapel. The three young kings then attend the Mass at the Chapel and return being transformed and deciding to follow Jesus Christ,” said Fr Afonso.
On the Feast Day, Masses were celebrated at 5 am, 6.15 am, 7.30 am, 8.45 am and the main Feast Mass at 10.15 am, where the three children dressed as three kings arrived at the Chapel on horses from Cansaulim, Cuelim and Arossm. There was another Mass celebrated at 4.30 pm.
A devotee and Police Inspector Sherif Jacques told the media said that the tradition had been celebrated in Cuelim for centuries.
“My son had got a chance to be one of the kings last year and these traditions have been maintained by the villagers of Arossim, Cansaulim and Cuelim, which have one king each from the village every year during the Feast.”
“The kings are selected by the original inhabitants from Cansaulim and it is very difficult to get a chance and this is once in a lifetime chance to depict a king. Sometimes, names are written 5 to 6 years prior and they are entitled to depict a king after their receive the first holy communion.”
“My father had been the King and I was also a King. My son became the King last year and I am fortunate that all three generations in my family have been chosen as kings from our village “ said PI Jacques.
He informed that horses for the Feast are arranged from Kolhapur and are brought to the village prior to the Feast.
“This tradition has been maintained for centuries where the three kings offer their gifts to the church after arriving on horses. Many people end their Christmas celebrations after this Feast,” said Jacques.
A number of makeshift stalls with various Goan delicacies and sweets, toys, clothes and other items did great business as there was a large number of devotees at the feast this year.
