The annual Feast of Our Lady of Miracles or Milagres Saibin is celebrated with devotion by people of both Catholic and Hindu faiths
KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
On May 5 this year, all roads will lead to Mapusa as the annual Feast of Milagres Saibin will be celebrated with much pomp
and fervour.
Held on the second Monday after Easter, the feast is celebrated at the St. Jerome’s Church.
“Although our patron saint is
St. Jerome, the feast of Our Lady of Miracles has acquired more popularity over the years. It was during the renovations of the church that a statue of Our Lady of Miracles was placed in the church, following which her feast came to be celebrated,” says parishioner Elya Fernandes.
Milagres Saibin is credited with many miracles and it is believed that if one prays to her with full devotion, she will cure any illness.
“When I was small, I was often told by my mother that if one prays fervently to Our Lady, she will grant you whatever you ask for. She also heals any sickness. That is why there is the practice of offering various wax body parts to her as well as candles,” shares Fernandes.
Hindus in Goa also worship Milagres Saibin as they believe her to be the one of the seven sisters. “According to folklore, she is one of the seven sisters that got converted and came to be called ‘Milagres’ , which is ‘miraculous’. There was a Sateri temple there before the arrival of the Portuguese. The Milagres feast is now one of syncretism and communal harmony in Goa,” says historian Prajal Sakhardande.
Sharing his own personal experience of this feast, Sakhardande recalls that once in his childhood days, he was suffering from an earache. “When my parents and I visited the feast, they offered a wax ear to Our Lady of Milagres,”
he shares.
Even today, he adds, just like Fatorpa zatra, the feast is attended by both Catholics and Hindus. A statue of Milagres Saibin is also placed outside the church so that people can venerate it by pouring oil.
In fact, the Shirgao zatra of Goddess Lairai, who is said to be the sister, is celebrated around the same time as the feast.
Apart from this, devotees from Cansaulim also visit the feast. This is because as per folklore, another sister who was converted to Catholicism is the patroness of the Chapel of Our Lady of Remedios in Cansaulim.
As part of the feast celebrations at the church, the five-day Milagres Fiesta 2025, organised by the Milagris Entertainment Programme has an elaborate list of programmes and entertaining tiatrs this year in the church complex.
“We have games, local talent shows, music programme, and a number of stalls where you can buy stuff from,” shares Fernandes. Tiatrs like ‘Varear Ubtolo Kapus’, ‘Mhozi Maim, Mhozi Sasumaim’ and ‘Fatrachea Kallzacho’ will be staged.
And of course, the big fair which is synonymous with the feast will also be a key attraction. Incidentally, the Purumentachem Fest begins with this fair and it is a time for people to stock up on food items like dried fish, chillies, salt, etc. before the monsoons arrive. Apart from these produce, the fair also consists of a number of other stalls selling furniture, clothes, and much more.
(On the feast day, masses are scheduled at 5.30 a.m., 7 a.m., 8.30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11.45 a.m., 4 p.m.
and 5.15 p.m.)
