OLD GOA
Tens of thousands of devotees thronged the Feast Day on Tuesday, with Old Goa turning into a sea of people throughout the day.
People from different walks of life and from different parts of the State, country and the world converged in Old Goa to partake in the celebration of the feast of St Francis Xavier.
Devotees from France, Portugal and other countries were seen at the High Mass while people from other States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Jharkhand, Orissa and other States also participated in the celebration.
The early morning masses at 3.45 am, 5 am, 6 am, 7.15 am and 8.30 am, in particular, saw an overwhelming participation of devotees as people were seen standing outside the main pandal at the Basilica.
The devotees and pilgrims also made a beeline to venerate the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier as the veneration started in the morning at 5 am, in anticipation of the huge crowd.
Meanwhile, the parking lots were brimming with vehicles through the day and the traffic police were having a tough task in ensuring smooth flow of traffic.
Shops and establishments near the Old Goa flyover at the Old Goa to Neura road junction, were also shut for the day so that the traffic could flow smoothly.
The fair, as usual, was also brimming with thousands of people visiting the stalls to purchase the goods sold there.
The Goan stalls selling sweets and grams, delicacies like Chouris Pao and others, also saw brisk business as they were patronised by devotees and pilgrims alike who came for the feast.
