Feast of St. Francis Xavier is basically Christian but most popular festival of Goa. Since the day of first step on 6 May, 1542 on the Goan land till his death on Island of Sancian near the coast of China, 2 December, 1552, father Francis Xavier dedicated his life for the expansion and propagation of Christianity and teaching people about the brotherhood and humanity. For the entire life he interacted with common people very humbly and mercifully and always used simple words for guiding people to go on the path of light from the darkness. Probably due to this today Feast of St. Francis Xavier is not just Christian festival but is festival of Goa.

This is myth that body of St. Francis Xavier was brought back almost one year after of to be buried in China. Here a miracle is seen because dead body was as fresh as ever. At the Basilica of Bom Jesus church, located in the Old Goa, dead body is kept preserved in a glass coffin inside a beautiful silver casket.

Every year thousand of devotees from all over the world gathered in the Goa to mark the death anniversary on the 3rd day of December month. In the 1992, during the 400th celebration of death anniversary body was taken out of the coffin.

Annual celebration last for 9 days and during these days atmosphere around the church remains as cherish as the mini fair. On the day of feast a mass prayers begin as early as 4 am with presence of people from all parts of globe.