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| Home » Popular Pilgrimage Sites in India » Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji |
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Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji |
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Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji is one of the Popular Pilgrimage Sites in India . Christianity arrived on the shores of India way back in AD 52. It is the third most popularly practiced religion in the country today.Pilgrimage is an important form of practising religion amongst the Christians. Christians pilgrim believe it is a way of feeling in the presence of God.
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Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji is an important pilgrim site for Christians living in India and abroad as well. This holy shrine is located at Old Goa. It is at of a distance of 10 kms from the present capital of Goa- Panaji. The term Bom literally implies the good or esteemed. It is a term of veneration used for infant Jesus. Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji is one of India's first Bascilia. Bascilia is a term used to describe buildings which enjoyed a certain stature in society. It is interesting to note that Basilica of Bom Jesus Panaji is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in India. The Basilica of Bom Jesus at Panaji was built about 4 centuries ago in India. This religious shrine is included in the list of buildings which are considered to be a part of the heritage buildings of the world. It is considered to be a very important building as far as the history of Christianity in India is concerned. The tomb of St Francis Xavier lies here.
In the year 1946 the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Panaji became the first church to be elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica. The point to note is that the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Panaji is one of the richest churches in the state of Goa. The floors of the church are laid out in marble. It is inlaid with precious stones. The altars are elaborately gilded. The walls are decorated with frescoes and and inlay works. The paintings on the wall depict scenes from the life of St Francis Xavier. The Basilica houses the tomb of St Francis Xavier. An impressive edifice with a facade made out of granite was constructed too on the same premises. It is called the Professed House and is linked to the Basilica by a colonnaded arcade.
It is said that his body was to Goa almost 150 years after his death. It was handed over as a gift of honor by Medici, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany to the Basilica. The coffin is preserved here. It is a special coffin made in glass. It is further placed in an exclusive silver casket as a mark of respect to this great man who is said to have certain special powers of healing. It is no wonder that the chapel brings in a whole lot of pilgrims from both India and abroad year after year.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus at Panaji, Goa is well know by Christians all over the world. They are very keen to pay homage to the great soul who was blessed with unique powers of healing.
Travel to India provides Christians living abroad with an unique opportunity to visit the tomb o this great saint with heightened spiritual powers.
It is best to visit Goa in the winter months that is between the months of October and March. There is a special feast held here on the 3rd of December every year.
Goa is very well connected to by all international destinations by a special flights which ply to and fro from this land of the golden beaches. It is well connected by network of railway lines and frequent buses which leave for it from the nearby Mumbai.
Goa has accommodation facilities which range from pretty villas, to five star hotels to reasonable rated budget hotel. You can even enjoy the pristine beauty of this state when you come here to fulfill your spiritual mission.
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