Navelim
| Navelim | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Navelim
Navelim
|
|
| Coordinates: 15°15′23″N 73°58′07″E / 15.25639°N 73.96861°ECoordinates: 15°15′23″N 73°58′07″E / 15.25639°N 73.96861°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Goa |
| District | South Goa |
| Sub-district | Salcete |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 11,014 |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Postcode | 403707 |
| Area code(s) | 0832 |
Navelim (Konkani नावेली, Naveli) is a village in Salcete, Goa. It is located in South Goa, near the city of Margão, south of the capital Panjim.
Navelim's church was first built by the Jesuits in the 1590s; the present, Portuguese-style whitewashed structure was constructed later on when the older building became too small. The reconstruction was apparently financed by a local merchant "Barreto" who was saved from bankruptcy through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary.
According to legend, this church was built in mud similar to the other churches in Salcete between 1594 and 1598. The builders were Jesuits and it was financed by the villagers. The first parish priest of Navelim Church was a French Jesuit Fr. John Sena. (Mitras Lusitanas no Oriente)
As time passed, the church became small for the growing population. Later on, it was reconstructed with laterite stones on a larger scale by a rich Goan merchant, whose name is not given.
This merchant, according to legend, while passing through the main road running in front of the above church, received the message that he would lose a substantial amount of money in his business. As soon as he received this message, he entered the church and started praying to Our Lady of Rosary, requesting her to relieve him from this catastrophe. If his prayers were answered, he promised to reconstruct the original church, on a larger scale. In the event he not only recovered what he had lost, but realised double the amount. He then financed the entire reconstruction of the church and also renewed the statue of our Lady of Rosary. Information on further reconstruction of Navelim church, if any, are not known.
The celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Rosary begins every third Wednesday in November. This devotion of Our Lady comprises an extensive celebration which begins with traditional processions and novenas.
Each year the family selected to celebrate the feast paints the church on the outside fifteen days before the feast. The inside of the church is also beautifully decorated and the outside is covered with fairy lights. Most of the houses and streets in the village are lit up with colourful lights during the celebrations.
Every four years, the statue of Our Lady of Rosary is brought down from the altar and a procession takes Her to Holy Rosary School where mass is held in the playground. During this one day consecration of Our Lady, children from the school act out scenes from the Bible and the playground is filled with crowds of villagers.
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Wikipedia