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Goa celebrates the Three Kings Day

     Cansaulim (Goa): The Christians of Goa on Saturday celebrated the Three Kings Day marked by a church service, procession and a colourful fest to commemorate the Biblical story of the three kings' journey, bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Perched on a hill, the Cansaulim Church, a centuries-old stone chapel, 24 km from capital Panaji, sprang to life as scores of devotees thronged the church to be a part of the festival. Coming 12 days after Christmas, the Three Kings Day honours the journey of the three wise men to visit baby Jesus.

    Related closely to the Feast of Epiphany, one of the oldest of Christmas fests, it is believed to have begun in Middle East by churches strongly influenced by the Gospel of John. Three children selected from the nearby villages were dressed as the three kings. With attractive robes and golden crosses in their hands they attended the mass and then handed over the gifts, meant for the infant Jesus. This was followed by the crowning of the three kings and the kings started on their journey back to home as locals and tourists watched in awe the flamboyant ceremony. "So far it's been fantastic. (It's) been really, really interesting for us, all the different colours and the sites and the children on the horses, it's been really, really interesting. So, we've really enjoyed it," said Karen, a tourist from England. "Everything, a whole complete different culture show and the atmosphere is really beautiful," said Dave another tourist from England. Father Zeserin D'Souza, a priest at the Our Lady Remedious Chapel, Cansaulim talked of the universality of God. "God is not God only of Catholics but the God of all the nations and of all the people irrespective of creed, caste and religion," he said. Believers also make offerings to the three crowns, in a symbolic gesture of paying respects to the Magi.
-Jan 6,  2007

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