THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
The fishing community of Kharewaddo and other parts of Vasco on Sunday celebrated the feast of St Peter and St Paul also known as "Sangodd" with traditional rituals and deep religious devotion.
The feast, which marks the blessing of the sea and boats for the new fishing season, is especially significant for fishermen, as St Peter, an apostle of Jesus and a fisherman himself is considered their patron saint.
At Kharewaddo, the celebrations began with solemn prayers at the Old Cross Chapel, where the priest invoked blessings on the sea, fishing gear, and the lives of those who depend on the waters for their livelihood. Holy water was sprinkled, followed by the recitation of the Litany by the assembled fishing community.
All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association President Jose Philip D’Souza informed that the religious service was followed by a procession in which the idol of St Peter was carried from the chapel to the fishing jetty amid the singing of hymns.
At the jetty, additional prayers were offered before the priest boarded beautifully decorated fishing vessels adorned with colourful balloons, coconut fronds, flowers, and other embellishments. The boats then ventured into the Arabian Sea as part of the long-standing tradition.
“The priest prayed to Almighty God and St Peter to protect our fishermen when they venture into the high seas during the upcoming fishing season,” D’Souza added.
