| Goa-Colva: 'Fama' Celebrated at Our Lady of Merces Church |
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From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa Margao, Oct 18: Fama of Infant Jesus at Colva's Our lady of Merces church was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm. Colva which is renowned not only for its beautiful beaches, but also for this event, which is celebrated over the nine days before the feast of this church. From Tuesday the Novenas in preparation for feast will begin. The historical church of Our lady of Merces is also knownas Kakutichi Saibin in Konkani and Nossa Senhora de Merces in Portuguese. Once in a year at the day of Fama, the statue of Infant Jesus is taken out from the altar in a procession. Devotees who come from every corner of Goa and the neighboring states take the kiss of the Jesus statue and seek favours. On the occasion of 'Fama' on Monday, the High Mass was held at 6 am, and thereafter the statue of Jesus was bought down from the Altar. Including 6 am Mass, eight Masses were held. History has it that the statue of the Infant Jesus was found in year 1640 by Fr Bento Ferreira. In 1648, when Fr Ferreira became the first vicar of the Colva church, he bought the statue of Infant Jesus to the same church, and after some days, it is believed, he noticed some miracles taking place because of the statue. Thereafter people all around came to know about the statue's miracles, the 'Fama' event was introduced. Those who suffer from problems like being issueless visit this church and pray to Infant Jesus for the blessing of a child. It is fervently believed that such prayers made here are answered. This statue has the power to heal the sick, said many devotees. Sick and old people were taken into the church through a special door. Some students from the local school were seen helping these people, to take them inside the church and to help them kiss infant Jesus. Devotees, with strong faith in Infant Jesus, were seen standing in the scorching sun in long queues outside the church area. Last year, 90 thousand-plus devotees' visit was recorded, while this figure has crossed one lac by late evening. All sections of the society come and pray to God at this event. Devotees said that they believed in the miracles of Infant jesus, which makes them to arrive at colva every year to present on the event. And when they returnhome, without fail they buy the 'Bentinn' as a token of protection. |
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A photo-feature on a celebration that's more important than the feast.
Photos by William Rodrigues (EXCLUSIVE for Goa-World)
Text by Alister Miranda
Much before the crystal white sands of Colva made her a favourite among tourists visiting Goa, the centuries old 'Fama' of the feast of Menino Jesus (Infant Jesus) celebrated traditionally with pomp and solemnity at the Our Lady of Merces Church, made the picturesque South Goa village know far and near. Colva is the only place in Goa where the celebrations on the feast day pale when compared to the festive atmosphere on the Fama day - the day meant to announce the start of the novenas that lead to the feast day and blessing of the symbolic 'maddi' that is erected in front of the church.
History has it that the statue of Menino Jesus was found off the coast of Mozambique in the 17th century by some shipwrecked sailors led by Fr. Bento Ferreira, a Jesuit missionary. On his posting to Colva in 1668, Fr. Ferreira had the statue grandly enthroned on a special altar. The
annual Fama began soon after, with the statue being kept for public veneration. Power struggles in Portugal which led to the suppression of the religious orders, forced the Jesuits to flee to the Rachol Seminary, carrying along with them the statue. Attempts by the Colva villagers to get back their statue proved futile. They decided to make a replica of the original. Their only possession a golden ring, believed to have been found after it slipped off the original statue, was mounted on the new statue. The devotion was thus restarted.
Today, this statue is securely concealed in a triple locked vault.Celebrated annually on the second Monday (but not before the 12th) of October, the Colva Fama continues to draw crowds from all over the world.
All roads led to Colva today 16th October.Devotees in all their finery began pouring into the church from as early as 5 a.m.
The Fama this year was celebrated by t h e 'Confraria de Santismo Sacrament de Menino Jesus'.The concelebrated High Mass commenced at 6a.m. sharp with Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, the parish priest of Guardian Angel Church - Sanvordem, officiating as the main celebrant. He was assisted by Fr. Assis Dourado (the parish priest of Colva church), Fr. Martin Dourado, Fr. Theodore Sequeira & Fr.Wilfred Sequeira. The melodious choir was arranged and conducted by the ever enthusiastic Fr. Maverick Fernandes the assistant parish priest of Colva church.
All through the mass, the altar which houses the miraculous statue of the Infant Jesus remained locked with a shutter, on which an image of the Infant Jesus is nicely painted,pulled down over it. After the Mass ended, the vicar and the president of the Confraria, Camilo Fernandes climed up the altar and exposed the statue after unlocking the shutter. The statue was then brought
down from its silver pedestal by Fr. Assis Dourado & handed over to Fr.Agnelo who carried it in a procession around the church. The statue was then taken to the main altar and all the finery removed and then cleansed and then a white robe was draped over it before the faithful are allowed to kiss the statue. All this was done under the watchful eyes of Police Inspectors Tony Camara and V.G. Gurav. The crown, flag, shoes and ornaments are all made of gold and the robe inlaid with gold and precious stones. The police presence is therefore much required.
The kissing of the Infant Jesus then begins inside the church. All masses thereafter, at 9,10,11 and 12 in the morning and 3, 4,5 and 6 in the evening are held under a 'mattov' erected in front of the church. A steady stream of thousands of faithful continues until 11 p.m.
Donations in
the form of cash and kind - even gold - candles and wax models of different parts of the human anatomy pour in throughout the day.The counters dispensing blessed cords priced at Rs. 10/- for a packet of 5 cords are continously busy. More than a lakh cords are ordered and sold out every year.
The 'FAMA' Feast this year is celebrated by Mr.& Mrs. Caetano Deniz and Mr. & Mrs. Jose Phillip Deniz of 1st Waddo - Colva.
A Marble plaque in the church
A sea of red confrarias
Ami Bhikari khore Rojrak Bore
Bubble Man
Child and Infant
Chonne bai tambde chonne zai
Colourful ferri
Confrarias attend
Decorated steel shutter guarding bejewelled statue
Dhump and Maddi
Female Confraria identified by red ribbon
First the Religious
A Marble plaque in the church
Inspector Tony Camara kisses feet
Jewellery being removed
Kadyo, Bodyo and Khajem
Opening of the safe
Procession begins
Simple white vestments
SiThe melodious choir
The precious adornments
The statue being handed over
The Wax works
CREDITS
- Our special thanks to Cecil & Conrad Pinto (Pinto & Pinto)
& http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/
- Photos by William Rodrigues (EXCLUSIVE for Goa-World)
http://www.goa-world.com/goa/photogenic-images/
Text by Alister Miranda
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Upcoming events in Kuwait:
* Colva Feast of Infant Jesus on 27th Oct. 2005 at Holy Family Cathedral celebrated by Colva United Centre (CUC)
* BBSC Fiesta 2005 - 3rd Nov. 2005 organized by Bombay Boys Sports Club.
* The Sentinels presents "COUTURE MANTRA 2005" - multidimensional Fashion Show & Theme Party on 10th Nov 2005 at Faker Eldeen Palace.
* Traditional Colva Nite on 24th Nov. 2005. Details Tel 2613680, 2648731
* Goan Heritage Program organized by Club.9 at Hilton Kuwait with "Pure Magic" & "Stepping Stones" on 8th Dec. 2005.
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