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9000 pilgrims visit Old Goa on 2nd day NT Staff Reporter Panaji Nov 22: Around 9000 pilgrims visited Old Goa today, the second day of the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier now underway at the Se Cathedral. According to the Exposition Commissioner, Mr Bosco George, around 30,000 pilgrims paid homage to the saint yesterday. But the church Convenor of the Exposition, Fr George Aguiar said that while the number of pilgrims for these two days may be low, it would swell once the novenas start on November 24. While six masses are scheduled till November 23, eight masses will be celebrated once the novenas start. But Fr Aguiar said that although not on the schedule, two Malayalam masses were offered today on request from pilgrims from Kerala. Masses in other regional languages of India will be offered after 11 a.m. daily but the pilgrims have to request the Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fr Savio Barreto. Meanwhile, a steady stream of pilgrims and tourists, from India and abroad, visited the Se Cathedral today to pay obeisance to the relics of St Francis Xavier. Ms Asha More is a native of Gorakhpur in Bihar but has lived in Arradi, Candolim, for the last about 10 years. She led a group of eight other Hindu neighbours, some of whom are from Karnataka and include two men. One woman in the group is Ms Kasturibai from Hubli. “Jesus has given me everything. My husband has a job in Saudi Arabia and my son is leaving for Saudi on December 10. I came to say Thank You and pay my respects to St Francis Xavier,” said Ms More. Interestingly, Ms More, Kasturibai and some from the group have visited the Potta Retreat Centre in Kerala for the last three consecutive years. “We are going again in April next year,” said Ms More. When asked if she believes in Christ, she smilingly shows her gold pendant embedded with the cross. Mr John Vonner from Lancaster, United Kingdom, is on his first holiday to Goa with his wife. He stays at Cavellosim. His take on God? “There is only one God, many religions, many aspects of God and many forms as well,” says Mr Vonner. This is the third time Mr Cherian Kuriakose from Allepey, Kerala, has come specially for the Exposition in Goa; this time with his wife and sister. The retired headmaster is an ardent devotee of the saint and will keep coming as long as he can. Mr Badrinath M R is one of the 105 dealers from Bellary district, Karnataka, of the Sindhur AgroTech, Andhra Pradesh. The group is on a three-day tour of Goa and were told at home that a visit to Old Goa during the Exposition was a must. And Mr Michael Broder and his beautiful wife Irena have come all the way from Burbansk, Russia. Today is the third day of their first visit to Goa. The couple live in Candolim and find Goa beautiful. Mr Broder said he was an atheist.
