PANAJI
Around 170 Pakistani Goans are all set to visit Goa for the ongoing decennial Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier with High Commissioner of India in Islamabad clearing their visas to travel.
While the first group of 85 pilgrims set to leave Karachi for India on November 28, another 85 pilgrims will leave for India on December 20 and are set to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the coastal State.
When contacted, the Goenkars Own Academy, which is coordinating the group’s travel and visas, confirmed to The Goan that the High Commissioner of India in Islamabad has informed the travellers that they got the confirmation to grant all the visas. “So now, the Commission will be sending the first group passports today or tomorrow. This group will leave on November 28 and will be part of the Exposition and Feast of the Saint on December 3,” the Academy said.
The Academy explained that this year 170 pilgrims from Karachi will be participating in the Exposition in two batches. “The first group of 85 is expected to leave the State post Saint feast, while the second group will celebrate their Christmas and New Year in Goa,” they said.The Karachi Goans are parishioners of various Churches in Karachi, including St Anthony’s Church, St Patrick’s Church, Our Lady of Fatima Church and St Lawrence’s Church.
The pilgrims had requested an invitation from the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman for the Exposition and attached this while submitting visa applications to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
“Preparations for this event began in this year after receiving the invitation from Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman,” said Peter Mendes, President of the Academy. The Exposition, commenced on November 21, will be a 45-days event culminating on January 5, next year.
With no direct flight from Karachi to Mumbai, some pilgrims are set to fly in via Dubai and some via a Sri Lanka. The pilgrims have to shell out around Rs 2 lakh per person on airfare. In 2014 too, a large group of around 400 pilgrims visited the State during the last exposition. In 2004 too, nearly 300 Pakistani Goans had venerated the relics during the Exposition.
Mendes said that the number of Goan Karachi pilgrims attending the Exposition this time has reduced from 400-odd pilgrims, who had travelled to the State during the last Exposition. “Prior to 2017, many used to travel to Goa and Mumbai to celebrate Christmas with their loved once,” he said.
The State government sources informed that any pilgrims, including those from Pakistan are free to take the advantage of Pilgrim village, if there are any issues pertaining to accommodation.
