Colva, Mar 22 (TOI): Every year at sunset on March 21 and September 23, a natural spectacle occurs at the Holy Spirit Church, Margao. Known as the spring equinox, the beams of the setting sun filter in through the church’s oculus windows illuminating its three altars.

At 6.15pm, the beams of sunlight entered through the three window on the upper level of church’s front façade.

They first hit just above the base of the main altar and then for 20 minutes slowly rose up finally lighting up the altars of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Scared heart of Mary and the emblem of the dove at the main altar.

Before coming to set on the main alter, the beams also lit up the monument depicting the scene of the Last Supper.

Like earlier instances, this year too, the church was packed to capacity as people from different walks of life, including students astronomy enthusiasts and even scientists, poured in to witness this 20-minute astronomical phenomenon.

Speaking to TOI, Fr Avinash Rebello pondered upon the genius of the people who designed and built the church according to an astronomical computation.

One of the spectators, Soraya Maria Menezes, said, “The design of the church’s facade that is perfectly aligned to enable this spectacle is a fantastic manifestation of intelligence, skill, precision and knowledge.

”Another visitor said that while the mystery of the astronomical computation and the design may not be known to us, but the spellbinding spectacles will continue to enthral people for generations to come.