Pilgrims assemble at St Francis Xavier Church in Jamboti en route to Old Goa. Captured by : Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
Continuing their over four-decade-long tradition, about 700 walking pilgrims from different villages and towns in the upper ghats region have set on a Padyatra, a walking pilgrimage to Old Goa.
Beginning from Kolhapur and Belagavi districts, some of the pilgrims began their pilgrimage from Monday while others started on Tuesday.
About 700 pilgrims are likely to reach Old Goa on December 2 to present their petitions and ‘angvonns’ at the feet of ‘Goencho Saib’.
This is the 42nd year since the pilgrimage was started by late Fr Prabhudhar, a Jesuit who embraced the Swami lifestyle from North Karnataka region. The first padyatra which commenced from Ajara town in Western Kolhapur taluka with only seven pilgrims has now become popular among the people from Belagavi and Kolhapur districts.
Devotees of St Francis Xavier from Mumbai, Pune and other metros are also taking part in this pilgrimage. Many of them are Gaoncars having their roots embedded in various comunidades in Goa.
Barring 2020, when Covid-19 was in its peak, the padyatra has continued every year.
“The number had crossed the 1,000 mark in 2019, however, due to Covid it has dwindled and is expected to pick up in the coming years,” said Fr Kustas Lima, parish priest of Khanapur.
Apart from priests, religious and lay persons, women, men and children of other religions too have taken part in this pilgrimage.
“I am experiencing eternal bliss within me. It’s a wonderful spiritual experience. ‘Goencho Saib’ will indeed heed to our petitions and intercede and work wonders, the way he has blessed several pilgrims all these years,” Vincent Dias from Pune, who has joined the pilgrimage for the first time, told The Goan.
While the pilgrims from Gadhinglaj, Ajara, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji commenced their pilgrimage from Monday and are walking via Chandgad, Bheshi, pilgrims from Belagavi and Khanapur who commenced their padyatra on Tuesday and will be walking via Jamboti, Chorla.
The entire group will be reaching Sanquelim on December 1, from where they will be proceeding to Old Goa on December 2.
