The annual Feast of St. Francis Xavier, a ceremony which used to attract thousands of people each year, was organised in a muted way in Old Goa on Thursday, as public gatherings were not allowed at the event in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While people formed long queues in the morning outside the campus of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, measures were taken to ensure there was no crowding at the place, and the event was telecast live online as well, said a priest. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is the area where the relics of the 16th century Spanish saint are reserved.

“Precautions were taken to ensure social distancing and also allow people time to offer prayers at the relics,” said Fr Patricio Fernandes, Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Due to the outbreak of the pandemic this year, the Church authorities in Goa have withheld public gatherings for the congregational masses.

Parishioners were not allowed to attend the masses, including the main event at 10:30 am, a senior priest at the Basilica informed.

“For the feast mass, which is the main event, only 160 representatives from various parishes were invited and 40 priests also participated in it,” he said.

“The masses (congregational prayers) were telecast live on various online platforms so that people do not move out of their homes,” he said.

The veneration of the relics of St Francis Xavier was allowed from 5 am, but with a limited number of people at a time.

The masses were streamed online from 6 am on various social media platforms, he said.

According to official figures,Goa till Wednesday reported 48,241 COVID-19 cases and 693 deaths due to the disease.