Panaji :For the first time in 13 years, the Milagres feast at Mapusa and Shree Devi Lairai Zatra in Shirgao will be celebrated on April 24.
Devotees have traditionally believed both Milagres Saibin and Lairai Devi are sisters and follow an age-old custom to offer oil to the Milagres Saibin from Shirgao Devasthan and to offer Mogra flowers to Lairai Devi from the St Jerome Church in Mapusa. The Milagres feast is celebrated on the third Monday following Easter. It is rare that the Lairai Devi Zatra also falls on the same day. The two festivals were last celebrated on the same day in 1970 and in 2010.
The Milagres Novena has begun with the Fama on April 14 at 6 pm and masses between April 15 and April 23 are being celebrated at 7 am, 8 am (Novena and Salve) and 6 pm (Novena and Salve).
On April 16 and April 23, (Vesper) which are Sundays, Masses will be celebrated at 6.30 am, 7.45am (Novena and Salve), 9 am (English Mass) and 6 pm (Novena and Salve).
On the Feast Day, Masses will be celebrated at 5.30 am, 6.45 am, 8 am, 9.30 am (Feast Mass), 11 am (English), 4 pm and 5.15 pm.
