Feast of Cabo Raj Niwas Chapel, Grotto of St. Paula etc

The feast is unique. Never seen like this before.

More people visited not for the feast /Chapel but for St. Paula whose grotto lies below the Cabo Chapel. Long Qs are seen with devotees carrying flowers and candles. Majority of them were non-Christians including the youth. Looks like they come here year after year i.e. on 15^th August.

Never heard of this little known Saint Paula nor I know how the devotion first started here.

I was amazed to see such a huge crowd and they did not mind staying in the Q under the hot sun for more than one hour. So strong must be the devotion, probably come down from their ancestors. Cabo was open for Public from 8 am and were suppose to leave by 1pm due to security reasons. But even at 12.45, we saw more and more devotees joining in the Q which would take them at least 1 hour to reach to the grotto which means 1.45pm but all devotees were to leave by 1pm, don’t know if this was extended by few hours.

Some pics

The Chapel (about 500 years old)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802458212/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802532828/sizes/l/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802534748/sizes/l/in/photostream/

inside the Chapel

Main altar etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802468530/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802480656/sizes/l/in/photostream/

the Patron Saibinn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802483526/in/photostream/

silver candle stands etc

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802475422/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Golden pulpit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802472108/in/photostream/

Our Lady of Lourdes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802477912/in/photostream/

Huge cross
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802485932/in/photostream/

part of Governor’s residence

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802460660/in/photostream/

Beautiful view of the Arabian sea

Even kids seems enjoying the view
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802463026/in/photostream/

Long Q not for the feast Chapel but the Grotto of St. Paula or Paulin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802465338/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802527764/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802487956/in/photostream/

St. Paula

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802524380/in/photostream

Feri

Khajem
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802456130/in/photostream

Another view, protection wall etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802530666/in/photostream/

Cabo garden / Fountain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802538452/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Directions – sign board
Tennis Court, Parking, Secretariat, Grotto, Chapel, Raj Niwas, Library etc

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802542026/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Way to cafeteria / Gymnasium but Cafeteria was closed on the day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802545588/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Cabo Helipad

Place of Helicopter Landing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802548292/sizes/l/in/photostream/

the Main Gate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802551410/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Video 1 (Feast, Mass, chapel etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096dCtkv2PU

Video 2 ( Long Q to the Grotto of ST. Paula)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQDCHiXgziU

More pics added few hours later..

The Chapel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804751040/in/photostream/

Rear section of the chapel with balcony

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804741168/in/photostream

Boys with flowers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804743446/in/photostream/

the Grotto (inside)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804746020/in/photostream/

the Saint (St. Paula)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804748578/in/photostream/

Video 3 (Photo Show)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkC4CIe797U

From 2008

The Chapel
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2395070028/ sizes/l/