St Francis Xavier’s Feast: Goan Settlers From Kolhapur, Belagavi Begin Annual Pilgrim Walk

By Louis Rodrigues –

Belagavi: As the novenas to St Francis Xavier begin, the Goan settlers in the upper ghats region of the Western Ghats from the districts of Kolhapur and Belagavi gear up for the yearly walking pilgrimage to Old Goa. With their ancestral roots embedded in various communidades of Goa, these Konkani speaking settlers identified as Zonnkars, despite being away for over four centuries have still kept their bond with Goa alive. Thus the walking pilgrimage that was started by Late Swamy Prabhudhar, the distinguished Jesuit in 1982 from Ajara has been strengthening their faith which they strongly believe was bestowed upon them by St Francis Xavier whom they affectionately address as Goencho Saib.

While over 1000 walking pilgrims are expected to reach the Basilica of Bom Jesus on December 2, the farthest among them are the pilgrims from Ichalkaranji near Kolhapur. Identified as Manchester of Maharashtra by the virtue of the continuous clattering of power looms, Ichalkaranji is over 250 kms from Old Goa. Four walking pilgrims from here namely Xavier Fernandes, a teacher, Ruzai alias Ravi D’souza, Wilson D’souza and James Bardeskar set afoot for Old Goa early Tuesday morning and are expected to cover the distance of over 250 kms by foot reaching Goa on December 2. En route they would halt at Nippani, Gadhninglaj, Nesari, Here, Bhedshi and Bicholim, the tradition that they have kept alive for over three decades and a half.

According to Fr Joe Monteiro, the dean of Gadhinglaj deanery of the Sindhudurg diocese, a large group from Gadhinglaj, Ajara, Chandgad talukas are expected to join the walking pilgrimage in large number this year. “With the love of Goencho Saib in our hearts, we recite Rosary and sing hymns while special mass is also offered at every halting place,” Fr Joe, the Jesuit and nephew of Late Swamy Prabhudhar said. Like every year, pilgrims from Savadatti belonging to different faith including Catholics from Khanapur and Belagavi are expected to leave for Old Goa by foot.

According to Ravi D’souza one of the pilgrims from Ichalkaranji, they carry their cook, ration and other items and also assist in cooking the food, the experience, which he says is exhilarating. Many times there are villagers and a large number of people who offer them food.
When in Sanquelim, Neil Monteiro, an entrepreneur and himself an ardent devotee of St Francis Xavier serves the pilgrims appetizing food and breakfast while Thomas Fernandes and family serves them steaming hot food in the campus of the basilica on December 2. A special mass is also organised every year for the walking pilgrims.

Photo: Walking pilgrims from Ichalkaranji who left for Old Goa by foot on Tuesday.

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