CANACONA
An organisation called 'Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir' has petitioned President Droupadi Murmu to facilitate access to devotees to celebrate the two annual feasts at Anjediva Island.
In a letter, 'Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir' Convener Jack Mascarenhas pleaded with Murmu in her capacity as Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces to allow access to Anjediva Island to celebrate the traditional Catholic feast of Our Lady of Springs on February 2, 2023.
“Anjediva Island, which is located off the coast of Canacona taluka in the Arabian Sea, is currently under Naval jurisdiction. For many centuries, the people of Goa have been celebrating the feasts of Our Lady of Springs on February 2 and St Francis of Assisi on October 4,” stated Mascarenhas.
“However, since the Naval occupation of the island a few years ago, access to the Church and Chapel has been denied to devotees from Goa and Karnataka. Despite several attempts for the past many years, we did not get desirable access to the island. We request your directions to the Indian Navy to facilitate access to the Anjediva Island to celebrate both feasts, including the February 2 feast of our Lady of Springs.”
It may be recalled that several devotees from Goa, including an octogenarian Natividade De Sa of Canacona, had pleaded with Seabird authorities to permit access to devotees only twice a year to celebrate the traditional feasts on the island.
While Naval authorities declined the requests citing security concerns, even the requests made to former defence minister late Manohar Parrikar failed to yield any results.
According to sources, many residents had hoped to hand over the letter personally to President Murmu, but her visit to inaugurate the recent Lokosthav-22 at Adarshgram in Amone-Poinguinim got cancelled.
