Goa's first 'Konsachem Fest' was celebrated at Raia village today

THE FEAST DAY

The annual feast of Our Lady of Snows was celebrated on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia.

NUMBER ONE

For Goa's Catholics, Raia, in South Goa, is the first village in the state to celebrate the harvest festival.

TRADITIONAL PROCESSION

As part of the feast day celebrations, there was a traditional procession, in which the priest joined the parishioners as they walked from the church to the field.

ANGELIC TOUCH

The procession was led by little children from the parish, dressed as angels, wearing white satin robes and sporting large white wings.

FIRST CUT

The main celebrant for the feast mass, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, sfx, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi, Jharkhand, cut the first sheaves of paddy using a silver sickle.

BLESSING THE SHEAVES

The sheaves were then blessed by Rev Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.

SHARING THE BOUNTY

After cutting and blessing the sheaves, they were distributed among the parishioners who had gathered there.

SWEET EATS

As always, a big fair was held in front of the church on the feast day.

NEXT: Goa's artisans gear up for Chaturthi by sculpting traditional clay idols