VASCO
The feast of Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings Feast was celebrated with traditional fervour on Friday morning at Our Lady of Remedios Chapel in Cuelim.
It was a special celebration with three children depicting the Three Kings and riding on horses to the Our Lady of Remedios Chapel in Cuelim. Naashon Jacques from Cuelim, Nathaniel Gracias from Cansaulim and Gibson Gomes from Arossim were given the privilege to represent the Three Kings during the feast.
A large number of devotees participated in the Feast Mass and other Masses to seek the blessings of Our Lady of Remedios. Stalls with various Goan delicacies and sweets were permitted during the feast this year.
Speaking to reporters, Fr Ave Maria Afonso said as per tradition, three children, one each from villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim, represent three kings and arrive on horses amid musical processions.
"The three kings who had come following the guiding star to worship the Lord Jesus on the feast of Holy Epiphany arrive on horses through three different paths and meet at some distance away from the chapel. The three young kings then attend the Masses at the chapel and return being transformed deciding to follow Jesus Christ," said Fr Afonso.
A devotee and Crime Branch Police Inspector Sherif Jacques told reporters that the tradition has been celebrated for ages.
"My nephew has got a chance to be one of the kings this year and these traditions have been maintained by villagers of Arossim, Cansaulim and Cuelim, which have one king each from the village, every year during the feast,” said Jacques.
“The kings are selected by the original inhabitants from Cansaulim and it is very difficult to get a chance and this is once in a lifetime chance to be a king. Sometimes, names are written 5-6 years prior and a chance is given to the boy after he receives the first holy communion.”
“The horses for the feast are arranged from Kolhapur and brought here prior to the feast. These rituals and traditions have been maintained for ages where the three kings offer their gifts to the church after arriving on horses," said Jacques.
