The feast of St Francis Xavier is held on 3rd December at
Old Goa. The
Basilica of Born Jesus, built in AD 1605, contains the mummified body of St Francis Xavier kept in a silver casket. This body is exposed to the public once in 10 years.
This feast is attended by thousands of devotees from all over the world. The devotees kiss the relics of the saint. It is believed that the saint has healing powers. The devotees come to offer their gratitude to him. They gift the saint wax idols depicting the body parts, which according to them, healed by the saint.
A fair, called the old-Goa fair, is held after the feast. The exposition of the body of St Francis Xavier was held last in 2004.
