Divine bond: Two sisters bring two faiths together

Time of India

03-05-2025

Panaji:
The jatra in Shirgao in honour of the goddess Lairai brings together two faiths — Hindus and Catholics — as the goddess is said to be one of the six sisters of
Our Lady of Miracles
of Mapusa. Both feasts are celebrated within a couple of days of each other. Very rarely — just three times in over 50 years — has the feast and jatra been celebrated on the same day.
'Our Lady of Miracles (Milagres Saibinn) was one of the seven sisters who was converted by the Portuguese to the Catholic faith. She is called
Mirabai
,' writes the
Jesuit priest
Father Apolinario Cardozo in the book, 'When Goa Celebrates'.
The two sisters are also believed to visit each other on the day of their respective festivals.
'There is the tradition of gifts sent by the sisters to each other. While Lairai sends one 'couso' (pot) of oil, Milagres sends one basketful of flowers. These gifts are sent on the day of the feast and the jatra, respectively,' writes Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues in her book, 'Feasts, Festivals and Observances of Goa'.
On Monday, the feast day of Our Lady of Miracles, both Catholics and Hindus offer candles, oil, money, and even miniature body parts made of wax, in exchange for favours granted.
At the
Shirgao jatra
, it is not uncommon to see Catholics pay their respects.
'The (Our Lady of) Milagres (Miracles) feast is celebrated on the third Monday after Easter,' Vasudev Joshi, priest of the Shirgao temple, told
TOI
on Saturday. 'We believe she is Mirabai, sister of goddess Lairai. Some 60 years ago, we used to send flowers and oil from here to Milagres. It is believed that the feast should always be on a Monday and should not clash with the Shirgao jatra.'
He said that it is believed that once, the jatra and feast happened on the same day, and a bench in the church caught fire. 'However, over the past 60-65 years, since I know of it, no exchange has taken place between the temple and Milagres. Though we believe they are sisters, the younger priests do not believe in it,' he said.
A temple dedicated to Mirabai was located at Mayem, until the Portuguese, during the later part of their reign, captured the areas further north. Mirabai's temple is believed to have been destroyed in the process, but she took on the form of Our Lady of Miracles for devotees.
Mirabai's six sisters, who were worshipped in different temples, are believed to have been Lairai at Shirgao, Mhamai at Mayem, Kelbai at Mulgao, Monai at Morjim, Mahalasa at Mardol and Adiadipa at Anjediva. Khetko is their only brother.