OLD GOA
It was an uncommon start to the Novena and Feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, with the multitudes usually associated with the event missing and all Masses telecast online on Tuesday.
The Masses were telecast online at 6 am (celebrated by Calangute deanery), 7 am (celebrated by Benaulim deanery), 8 am (celebrated by Blessed Sacrament Fathers) and 6 pm (celebrated in Tamil).
All the Masses were telecast live on the Basilica website (www.bomjesus.org), the Basilica YouTube channel: Official-Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa and the Diocesan Centre (www.archgoadaman.com), CCRTV, AE Media, GCTV and various other media channels.
The theme for the first day of Novena was ‘By proclaiming the good news to all, St Francis Xavier bore witness to Christ’ and the priests exhorted the devotees to be witnesses to Christ.
However, the huge crowd which otherwise throngs for the Novenas was missing on Tuesday.
The fair, which used to be a huge hit among the devotees as well as the tourists, was also missing due to the ongoing Covid pandemic which took a shin of this year’s celebration.
Even though this year the devotees are allowed to partake in the veneration of the Relic of St Francis Xavier, the turnout was not as it used to be in normal circumstances.
When The Goan visited Old Goa on Tuesday morning, it was seen that the barricades which have been installed outside the Basilica for pooling, in case of huge rush of devotees, were hardly used. The parking areas also had few takers.
It was also seen that there was only one entrance, for both tourists visiting the Basilica and devotees, with tourists outnumbering the devotees.
However, authorities concerned left nothing to chance as elaborate arrangements were made for the Novena and Feast.
Police teams and other armed security were posted at various strategic points and on watch towers, keeping an eye on the movement of the people. Traffic police, fire personnel and others were also posted for the event.
