MARGAO: The feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings’ feast, is celebrated by Catholics on January 6 across the world. It often symbolizes the end of Christmas celebrations and the packing up of decorations for next year.
In Goa, the visit of the Magi, as the Three Kings are also called, is grandly observed in three villages-Cansaulim and Chandor in the South and Reis Magos in the North.
According to the Gospel, the Wise Men from the East-yet another name for the Three Kings-were guided by a star to Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago, where they worshipped the child Jesus.
Commemorating this visit in Cansaulim, three young boys from the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim are chosen as the Three Kings. Travelling on horses, they converge some distance from the Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies (Nossa Senhora dos Remedios) before proceeding towards it for the feast mass at 10am.
The chapel stands pretty on the picturesque hill at Cuelim and locals say the feast has been celebrated every year since their ancestors helped renovate the chapel in 1795.
In Chandor, the three young boys who play the Wise Men come from three hamlets-Chandor (Kott), Cavorim and Gurdolim.
The youngsters meet at the nearby hill of Our Lady of Mercy and descend on horseback towards the main church-the Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem-where the feast mass is celebrated.
Here too, the feast has been celebrated every year since the church was built in 1645, say residents.
Reis Magos sees three of its youngsters play out the part of the Magi and attend the feast mass at The Church of the Holy Magi.
Dressed grandly in regal robes, including ‘crowns’, the Three Kings in all three villages are accompanied by family and friends and the route they take is decorated with streamers, palm leaves and balloons. Those standing along the routes often shout out greetings to the chosen ‘Magi’.
The entire Eucharistic celebration, on an average, takes about three hours.
Over the years the feast has built a reputation as a tourist attraction and visitors visit to feast on its colour and pageantry.
The ‘Three Kings’ also carry along versions of the gifts that were offered by the original kings-gold, incence and myrrh.
Ashley Fernandes, a resident of Cansaulim, explains that the ancients regarded gold as the king of metals and Christians thus interpret it as standing for the kingship of Christ.
Incense was used for worship and the aroma along with the smoke rising heavenwards spoke to them of God and divinity. “Christians interpret this gift as standing for the divinity of Christ,” says Fernandes.
Myrrh was used to prepare the dead for burial. “Christians interpret this gift as standing for the humanity of Christ,” Fernandes concludes.