MARGAO
Come Sunday and pilgrims from Goa will undertake the annual pilgrimage to the pilgrim centre at Vailankanni in Tamil Nadu for the Madi, novenas and feast of Our lady of Vailankanni scheduled on September 8.
The first batch of pilgrims will embark on the pilgrimage at the Margao railway station on Sunday ahead of the traditional Madi scheduled at the pilgrim centre on September 29. Amongst the pilgrims are a group of musicians and Konkani stage artists, who will perform at Vailankanni on August 28 on the eve of the Madi, scheduled on August 29.
Director Inacio Dias told The Goan that he and his troupe have been performing cultural and musical programmes at Vailankanni every year on August 28 as part of an entertainment programme ahead of the Madi scheduled the next day. “Thousands of people from Goa descend at Vailankanni for the Madi scheduled on August 29. These people reach the pilgrim centre either a day or two days before the religious ceremony. The musical show or programme is staged at the pilgrim centre on August 28 to provide entertainment to the people. Artists from other states also stage similar programmes for the benefit of their people,” he said.
Inacio added: “I have been staging the Konkani show at Vailankanni for the last 15 years. This is the 16th year that the programme will be staged at the pilgrim centre.”
While the first group of pilgrims will embark on the pilgrimage from the Margao railway station on Sunday via Kerala, the weekly direct train will leave the State as usual on Monday carrying hundreds of pilgrims. The special train announced by the government will also carry pilgrims to Vailankanni to ensure that the pilgrims reach the centre ahead of the traditional Madi.
Pilgrims want special train on Aug 27 to depart in morning
MARGAO: Pilgrims heading to Vailankanni for the Madi scheduled on August 29 has made a fervent plea to the Goa government that the special train heading to Vailankanni on August 27 should depart from Goa in the morning instead of late evening.
They claimed that the special train leaving Goa on August 27 evening will arrive at Vailankanni on early August 29 morning, leaving them hardly any time to look out for accommodation and to get ready for the Madi in the evening.
Former Aquem-Baixo Sarpanch Inacio Dais urged the Goa government as well as the South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes to intervene to ensure that the special train leaving for Vailankanni on August 27 leaves Goa in the morning and not in the evening in the future.
