Close to 32 lakh pilgrims have visited Old Goa for the veneration of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the ancient Church at Old Goa in north Goa, Secretariat of the decennial Exposition indicated in Panaji on Thursday.
Eucharistic masses and other Exposition-related activities are being held since November 22.
Come December 19, which marks the commencement of the holiday season, officials from the SFX Exposition Secretariat and Goa Tourism are expecting a huge rush of pilgrims/tourists.
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The SFX Exposition has already crossed the half-way mark and will conclude on January 4, 2015.
Church officials and organisers of the Exposition are expecting between 20 to 25 lakh more pilgrims/tourists to witness the Exposition.
Till date, counting staff at the Cathedral and Basilica have reported that around 18 lakh pilgrims/tourists have venerated the relics of St. Francis Xavier and around 12 lakh have attended Masses and another 2l lakh people have participated in the Exposition activities (fairs, hop-on-hop-off visits and tours of Old Goa).
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The Goa police have said that tight security resulting in low rate of pick-pocketing and reduction in missing children have been reported.
Expressing satisfaction over the organisation of the SFX Exposition, Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar on Thursday reiterated that the systematic and successful organisation of this religious event will go a long way in the promotion of Spiritual tourism in Goa.
“The pilgrim/tourist inflow for the St. Francis Xavier Exposition is very encouraging and we will meet the target of estimated arrivals for the Exposition till it concludes in January 2015,” he said.