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
Links
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/photogenic-images/
Text by Alister Miranda
Gaspar Almeida & Ulysses Menezes
Goa-World http://www.goa-world.com/colva/