Milagres Saibinn: Promoting inter-religious harmony 26 Apr 2009, 0007 hrs IST, Alexandre Moniz Barbosa & Rajendra P Kerkar
PANAJI/KERI: Mapusa's feast of Our Lady of Miracles draws not just Catholics, but persons from other communities too. In Goa, where the tradition of worshiping the Mother Goddess exists, the devotion to Mother Mary brings people of other communities to Catholic feasts of Our Lady. This feast though, celebrated on the second Monday after Easter, falling on April 27 this year, has a special connection to the zatra of Shirgao that usually follows the feast. At Shirgao, it is Goddess Lahirai that is worshipped and according to tradition, Lahirai and Milagres Saibinn (as Mapusa's Our Lady of Miracles is known) are considered sisters. In the book Feast, Festivals and Observances of Goa, Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues writes, "According to Goan folklore, the Lady of Miracles of Mapusa is one of seven sisters, who was converted to the Catholic religion by the Portuguese... Her other six sisters are worshipped at different temples... Ketko is the only brother. He is revered by the fisherfolks at Chopdem." A large number of people will make their way to Mapusa on Monday to seek the blessings of Milagres Saibinn. "While Catholics believe in the intercessory powers of Our Lady in eternal salvation, the Hindus consider her (Milagres Saibinn) as the incarnation of the Goddess Mirabai, sister of Goddess Lahirai," writes Rodrigues. "An interesting tradition is of the gifts the two sisters exchange. While Lahirai sends one couso of oil on the feast day, Milagres Saibinn reciprocates by sending a basket of mogrim on the zatra," says Rodrigues. Incidentally, prior to the feast, a nine-day novena is observed. "The novenas help devotees enhance their spiritual energy," explains Fr Francis D'Mello of Mapusa. Devotees from different communities attend the novenas too, he adds. Milagres Saibinn is also regarded as a deity who cures ailments and the sick come to her calling Milagres Saibinn pao' (Our Lady of Miracles, come to my rescue). Calangute-based nun Sister Martina runs a temporary shop at the church where she sells wax models of different body parts. "Devotees buy these organs and pray to be healed soon. They then return when healed to offer their gratitude," she explains. Poonam Ghatwal of Shirgao says, "Our Lairai devi and Milagris Saibinn are closely related. We have to continue this unique and rich custom." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/Milagres-Saibinn-Promoting-inter-religious-harmony/articleshow/4449380.cms
