Handi Khuris fest celebrated with fervour

The miraculous Handi Khuris at Maina in Curtorim village drew thousands of devotees from all walks of life and from all corners of the state as people and farmers joined the celebrations at the Holy Cross on Saturday. The occasion is a unique annual celebration on, revolving around the Holy Cross, and it draws thousands of villagers and pilgrims from the Catholic community and even other faiths to the ‘Khandi Khuris', as it is popularly called . Handi Khuris means ‘cross near the sluice gate'. Thousands throng the narrow bundh unlike other roadside Holy Cross feasts and spend more than two and even four hours queuing up to venerate the cross and pray. They come in as early as four in the morning and the serpentine queue continues throughout the day till late in the night The village sports a colourful festive look with a traditional brass brand also present at the spot.
Every year, the blessing of the Handi (sluice gate) takes place on August 20, but this year as it falls on a Sunday, the celebrations were held on Saturday. Parish Priest of Maina Church Fr Anthony Vaz blessed the Handi (sluice gate) around noon, ushering in the traditional celebration. The water stored in the adjoining lake by putting the sluice gate is then used to irrigate the fields. The farmers pray together to the almighty to fulfill the wishes of the people. "A man holding a string of palm leaves makes a dent in the palm pressing the leaf between this thumb and finger," said a villager , adding, "By dusk, the farmers pray for the intentions and this may go on for days together in the evenings. That is the uniqueness of the whole celebration."
After the Parish Priest blessed the Handi, the people were served food cooked by families whose favours were granted by the miraculous Cross. Farmers spread the mats and lay out the food for people to serve themselves. There are massive quantities of all types of cooked food prepared by farmers, including pulao, biryani and other dishes. Besides that, the faithful bring snacks, cakes, biscuits and other types of food. "Dry food like snacks, patties, cakes, biscuits, dosh, cold drinks and various other eatables are given as offerings by hundreds of devotees grateful for the angovnn (favours) granted to them," says a villager.
The Handi Khuris is considered miraculous and the faithful brave rains and the sun for hours. A local resident Simon Barretto said that childless couples, unemployed youth and others all come here and offer their prayers. Their faith only keeps adding numbers to the celebration every year. While it began decades ago with only a few hundreds gathering there, now there are thousands who visit , even from far away distances such as Canacona.