THE FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS AT CANSAULIM – SALCETE – GOA.
It was the Yuletide of 2004 that my wife and I had gone to
visit our relatives in Cansaulim, to witness the grand feast of the Three Kings
and fulfill a lifelong dream to attend this feast.
The three villages that take a major part in celebrating
this feast are Cansaulim, Cuelim and Arossim, at the Chapel on the Cuelim
hillock. A child from each of these three villages is chosen representing as a
‘King’ dressed symbolically in regal attire on horseback.
After a short prayer and ceremony at the respective three
different local churches, the ‘Kings’ from the family of the celebrants start
on the long trek on horseback, followed by other folks from each village and the
surrounding areas through villages and fields in a procession to the
accompanied by a brass band and playing along the way. The end of
the journey is near, the mount is in sight, finally reaching the chapel on the hill.
When they arrive at the hill, the 'Magi' meet in front of
the chapel, culminating with a con-celebrated Solemn High Mass and other
traditional festivities. The unity and the camaraderie that exists between the folks of these three villages is evident in the fact that this great feast is organized so well, with such timing, pomp and fervour.
The Adoration of the Magi - Feast of the Three Kings
Cansaulim, Salcete, Goa. India
In addition to the traditional
feast celebrated at Cansaulim, the Parishes of Reis Magos and Chandor also
celebrate this feast in Goa on a grand scale. It is commonly known as the feast
of the Three Kings, Epiphany of the Lord, The Magi or the Three Wise Men of the
East – Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar – each one carrying symbolic gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh.
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