A group of pilgrims who left from Ajara on Friday morning
Photo Credits: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
Continuing their spiritually rich tradition of paying tribute to ‘Goencho Saib’ through a walking pilgrimage, over 1,000 pilgrims from the Upper Ghats region left for Old Goa on Friday.
Setting aside their busy and routine schedules behind, these pilgrims began their journey by road via different routes to reach Old Goa on December 2.
This year being the year of Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, the number of these pilgrims is expected to swell as many more are expected to join en route.
Around 1,000 pilgrims from Khanapur, Belagavi, Gadhinglaj, Ichalkaranji, Belewadi, Ajara, Nesari, and the villages in the vicinity of the above places started their pilgrimage either Thursday evening or on Friday morning.
Chanting hymns and with the Angvonn in their hearts leaving behind their sorrows, worries behind these pilgrims will be reaching via various routes. While some are reaching via the treacherous Ramghat to descend at Mulas in Sindhudurg district, others will be reaching Goa via Chorla.
What is more interesting is that many of these pilgrims come from different ethnic backgrounds. This is the 43rd year of the spiritually popular Walking Pilgrimage that was started by the great Jesuit Swami Prabhudhar.
“Goa is our ancestral land and ‘Goencho Saib’ is our intercessor through whom offer our Angovonn. The eternal bliss which we experience through this walking pilgrimage is beyond imagination. Along with many others I reach Nesari village and then join this pilgrimage which provides me abundant energy throughout the year,” Vincent Dias, President of Pune Konkani Kristha Sabha Vincent Dias who has been the part of these pilgrimage for many years, told The Goan.
Many like Vincent come from Pune, Mumbai and other metros to join these pilgrimage. What is also noteworthy is the fact that many of these pilgrims are Gauncars of different Comunidades in Goa.
What is also important is that many priests are also joining this walking pilgrimage. Fr Melvyn Paes, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Ajara along with Fr Wilson Gonsalves left Ajara Friday morning.
“About 150 pligrims from Ajara have left for Old Goa,” Motes Rodrigues, a retired government officer said.
Fr Joe Monteiro said that over 125 from Khanapur taluka have joined the walking pilgrimage whereas about 150 from Belagavi left for Old Goa, according to Wilson Carvalho, an organiser.
En route, Neil Monteiro will be organising their meals at Sanquelim, while Tony Fernandes from Vagator will be serving meals to all walking pilgrims on December 2, both of them are serving these walking pilgrims since over three decades.
