THE LEGENDARY CROSS ON THE RANGE
(Notice the little niches and steps carved into the rock?)
View of the hill from the main road
ENLARGED VIEW FROM THE MAIN ROAD
Atop the verdant hilly range at Canca near Mapusa in Bardez, Goa, rests a massive rock. Upon this legendary rock sits a Holy Cross that was constructed in the early part of the 20th century. It is clearly visible on the left, towards the north from the main road, as one travels from the village of Canca to the town of Mapusa.
My earliest memories of climbing this hill to visit this site go back to when I was about 10 years of age. In those days, coinciding with the commemoration of the feast of the Holy Cross on the 3rd of May, some folks of households of our village at Guirim, Cumbiem Morod dedicated a litany and other prayers at this Cross. It was also a time when folks working abroad returned on vacations to the village. The litany was held in the late afternoon so that they could return home before night fall. A group of villagers - men, women and children - got together and formed a bee-line, walking a distance of about a mile and a half to the crest of the hill.
Folk legend has it that this rock has kept on growing over the years, while another legend has it that the Cross faces the constellation of the Southern Cross at true south. Notice the stars painted in blue on the two pillars that support the arch over the Cross, perhaps bearing some truth to this legend. For some reason, unknown to me at the moment, the stars are placed differently from each other - one of them being inverted. This may have been done knowingly or unknowingly by the original or later designer.
Before commencing the prayers, young boys vied for a special privilige to climb up to the Cross on the rock to light up the candles under the watchful eye of elders. Recesses that are chiselled into the rock served a dual purpose. One was to place one's feet in as one climbs up and descends, while the others served as recesses to light candles and shelter them from being blown out by the breeze.
Everyone sat on the ground after the litany as snacks were served. By nightfall everyone returned home - tired from a sort of expedition, picnic, prayer mission, experience and fun, all at the same time.
On the 25th of March 2005, during a vacation to Goa, my wife and I hit the trail on foot to the top of the hill. For me it was just for old's time's sake, while for my wife it was a first visit to the peak. Though it was a long and arduous trek, it was quite apt considering that the day happened to be a 'Good Friday'.
Photos by Tony Fernandes
View location of this Cross
in Panoramio/Google Maps
by TonFerns
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