He possibly comes as a divine reward for the resurgence of faith and devotion (particularly with the National Eucharistic Revival) in his native country; but he has not trumpeted his national affiliations.

They wend their way through the streets of Panjim and are among the most moving spectacles in the city's religious and cultural calendar.

Of the old-style festival, only the slogan remained: ‘Viva Carnaval!’; its soul had vanished into thin air.