Mapusa, April 18 -- For the second successive year, Mapusa's Milagres Saibinn feast will be devoid of devotees in the church.

Just about 48 hours before the dawn of the feast, the parish priest issued a brief message stating that the public masses had been cancelled due to the pandemic and the new restriction imposed by the government.

"With the rise in COVID cases and in view of the latest restrictions imposed by the government authorities, the public Feast Day Masses of Milagres have been cancelled," Parish Priest Fr Deniz Fernandes in a notice to the people stated.

He added that the Solemn Feast Mass will be streamed on YouTube so that people in their homes could participate.

This will be the second consecutive year people will be ...