Second day - Bom Jesus Basilica & Se Cathedral

Started off an early trip to the renowned Basilica of Bom Jesus,more famous as a World Heritage site preserving the mortals of St.Francis Xavier. The holy relics of St Francis Xavier were taken from Basilica of Bom Jesus Church to adjacent Se Cathedral church where it was kept open for 44 days Exposition.

The early start was of no use, as we had to bear the looooooooooong queue extending to four and half hours. Solemn exhibitions of the 'body' are held every ten years,and this time(like many other times!)it was rumoured that the remains would be taken back to Portugal(the saint's birth place). Of course, this drew in crowds and crowds of pilgrims...seriously, I wasn't one. I rather wanted to see, how the remains of a person who died some 460 years back..(in 1552)..omg the number is biggg!!!...looked like.

Few months back,I went through an issue of Mathrubhumi weekly...and came across an article pointing to the body exposition ceremony and the visit paid by the author.(I regret,but can't remember the issue nor the author.) He answered much of my doubts of the visit...:-);-)...
Let's move to the queue...

The all white Se Cathedral-side view...you can see tents extending to the inside of the church.

On the Se Cathedral --- Was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.The architecture style of the Se Cathedral is Portuguese-Manueline. The main altar is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, and there are several old paintings on either side of it.There are six main panels, on which scenes from the life of Saint Catherine are carved. The Se Cathedral also houses a baptismal font made in 1532 which was used by Saint Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, in order to baptise several Goan converts.

Standing in the queue.. I met all sorts of people of different ages,cultures,nations...all moving in line,in patience..(by the way,the services of volunteers are exemplary)... my co-travelers,passed the first hour in silence and prayers. But then.. the intense heat,the 'walk like an ant' rule,the queue breakers,the all upset little ones..all together created a commotion! No one could attend to peace...(yes,peace is relative!)..it became a noisy crowd in no time. 

The crowd strangely exhibits the same patterns of behavior wherever they are..the same noises, the same arguments,the same misfires,,,the same human being who shares a common sense of annoyance,frustration,greed,envy,and impatience. I enjoyed watching the buzz...

To the exposition ..the body after so long years, is desiccated,most parts corroded. Hardly can I understand,the 'fuss' around a body 'dead',is mummified and revered,apart from its business motives! I went out...

Magnificent Se Cathedral 

...We now moved to the Bom Jesus Cathedral...The Bom Jesus Jesuit church is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple. The church also holds paintings of scenes taken from the life of St. Francis Xavier. The mausoleum,on the top of which is placed the silver casket holds the body of St. Francis Xavier.

An epigraph

The altar

Spent some time inside... I was all tired and hungry and cam.was shut for a while.. In half an hour,we were out...and the last pics outside--the ornamented entrance.. Awesome it looked!

.....stomachs full..straight to Calangute.