from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Feb 21: Special masses were offered in Goa's 180-odd churches on Wednesday to mark the Ash Wednesday, the begining of Lent season, a time for penance and sacrifice.

The three-day-long Carnival festivities ended Tuesday night. Masses were offered right from morning 6 a.m. and will continue till evening.
 
The faithful had their foreheads marked with a cross of ashes from blessed burned fronds of last year's Palm sunday. Lent season begins from today when Catholic brethen would desist from eating meat and liquor. Ash wednesday is a sign of penitence and spiritual cleansing before the 40 days of lent season.

"On Ash Wednesday, it has become a tradition for millions of Catholics around the world to pass by a church to have their foreheads marked with ashes shaped like a cross as a symbol of Christ’s great sacrifice by dying on His cross, and as a sign for atonement of one’s sins," stated a priest.

Long queues were seen in major churches today to get their foreheads imposed with the blessed ash.