Location
Talualim, North Goa
The
Church of St. Anne is one of the finest masterpieces of the Indian
Baroque Architecture. The construction of this church was started in
1577 by its Vicar, Monsignor Francisco de Rego and was finally
completed by his successor, Rev. Fr. Antonio Francisco da Cunha in 1695.
The
Church of St. Anne of Talaulim was declared a National Monument during
the Portuguese regime in 1932 and repairs to the church were undertaken
at the state's expense. The survival of this edifice is of prime
national importance as it highlights the cultural heritage of both Goa
and the rest of India. It is a product of consummate art and skill of
Indian craftsmen, inspired by Indian genius that moulded and blended
the baroque architectural style so as to lend it an Indian bias and
thus endowed us with a superlatively glorious specimen of Indian
Baroque Architecture.
According to legend, when the building was
coming up, an elderly villager named Bartholomeu Marchon had a vision
of an old lady with a staff in hand and wearing a hat, coming down the
neighboring hill who said that the Church was her home and that it was
her desire to live there. The very same apparition was also seen by a
lady of high status who was gravely ill and was almost at her deathbed.
This lady said that an old lady appeared to her and said her name was
Anne and that she wished to have a home in that village. She then
helped the ailing patient to rise from her bed and made her walk about.
The lady miraculously recovered from her illness and told the village
priest what happened. At that time, the church did not have a patron
saint and so it was immediately decided to dedicate the Church in
honour of St. Anne the grandmother of Jesus.
The feast of St.
Anne, popularly known as "Touxeamchem Fest (Cucumber Feast)" is
celebrated every year on the 26th of July. It draws a large number of
devotees and childless couples from various faiths who beseech the
venerable saint to comply with their most ardent wishes.
Getting There
Closest City: Panjim, 15 kms
Closest Airport: Dabolim, 18 kms
Closest Station: Karmali, 5 kms
Directions
Mapusa: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Margao: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Panjim: Buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church
Vasco: Take a shuttle to Panjim. From Panjim, buses, taxis and autos go directly to the church.
