Feast of Our Lady of Snows (konsache fest) at Raia Church 2019

The harvest festival or Konsache fest is celebrated in Goa with great pomp and enthusiasm for centuries. It is a way to thank God for his continuing blessings on the farmer’s community and providing them with healthy crops over the years.

The parish of Our Lady of Snows Church Raia in the Salcete taluka has the privilege to cut the first crop in Goa on the 5^th of August every year. This year, the blessing of the banner (maddi) will be held on 26^th July 2019. The Novenas will start from 27^th of July with Rosary/Adoration at 5:45pm followed by Mass at 6:00pm.

On the feast day, the people of the parish will wake up to, the sound of the band ‘Alvorada de Musica’ put forth by the parish youth group as they venture into the village starting at 4:00am. The Masses on the feast day will be held at 5:45am, 7:00am, 8:15am and the High Mass at 9:30am.

Farmers from far and wide will be in attendance along with people of different faiths and religion as the Priest  will cut the sheaves (konsa) with a silver sickle. He will than bless the harvest and pray for all the farmers for a good yield for their hardwork. After this the sheaves (konsa) will be distributed among the people followed by a procession to  the Church. Later the blessed sheaves will be sent to the neighbouring Rachol seminary.

There will be game stalls along with food and other utilities stalls outside the compound of the Church. A final of a football tournament organised by the Raia sports club will be held on the Raia ground in the evening keeping up with the tradition of the feast.

Apart from the Our Lady of Snows Church Raia the festival is also celebrated in the villages of Taleigao, Aldona, Divar during the monsoons in quite unique customs.