PANAJI
One of the key highlights of the ongoing Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier is the Pilgrim Village where the cottages have sheltered 79 devotees in just three days, drawing people from across Goa and beyond.
The largest group so far is a 29-member group from Tamil Nadu followed by a 12-member all-women group of Goans settled in Mumbai.
These women made a special trip to partake in the spiritual event just like many others arriving for the Exposition.
Located just a 5-minute walk from the Bom Jesus Basilica, the bamboo cottages are spread across three levels with a well-designed pathway to ensure smooth access for pilgrims. “So far, we had 67 walk-in pilgrims.
On Saturday, a group of 12 women who are Goans from Mumbai had already booked their stay. We are expecting more pilgrims,” Ninfa D’Silva, Hospitality In-charge from the main Exposition committee shared with The Goan. Another group of six Goans settled in Mumbai had also registered their stay here.
The hospitality team, backed by a bunch of volunteers, has undertaken the task of ensuring a seamless experience for pilgrims, even offering door-step service. While the cottages are free to stay, a nominal charge of Rs 300 per day covers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“We cater to their meal requests but they are welcome to bring their own food. For those preferring to cook, the Public Works Department (PWD) has set up a dedicated kitchen facility wherein the pilgrims can cook using their own gas and other essentials,” D’Silva added.
So far, pilgrims have travelled from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and even the UK including an elderly Goan OCI cardholder. D’Silva revealed that the 85-year-old OCI holder celebrated her birthday on Saturday with the entire team.
The Pilgrim Village comprises 17 cottages on two levels, each accommodating 12 beds whereas the third level includes five cottages with 10 beds each.
The cottages are designed to accommodate up to 250 devotees daily with larger crowds anticipated during the novena, feast days and weekends. To ensure security in and around the premises of the Churches, pilgrims in the Village are required to provide identification such as Aadhaar card details while checking in.
For additional accommodation, a massive hanger with carpeted flooring, set up by the PWD, is providing an alternate option for pilgrims.
The Pilgrim Village was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ahead of the Exposition wherein he assured free accommodation for visitors. He also stated that each facility is equipped with fans, lights and an inverter backup for uninterrupted power.
