Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, May 12: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said Sanatan Dharma and Indian culture must reach Gen Z to ensure future generations remain connected to religious traditions and Sanatani values.
He was speaking at the ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv 2026’ programme held at Shree Goveshwar Mahashiv Temple at Uppith-Bainguinim in Old Goa. The event was organised by the Department of Art and Culture.
Union Minister Shripad Naik, Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Faldesai, Director of Art and Culture Vivek Naik, and office-bearers of the Swami Narendracharya Maharaj Peeth were present on the occasion.
Sawant said that since the BJP came to power, both Goa and the country had witnessed major religious and cultural development. He stated that the State government had undertaken the construction and renovation of several temples, including the Goddess Mhalsa Narayani temple at Verna and the Saptakoteshwar Temple.
Highlighting the rise in spiritual tourism, the chief minister said tourists visiting Old Goa were increasingly visiting temples, particularly the Goveshwar Temple, where devotees can have darshan of all 12 Jyotirlingas at one location.
Speaking on Goa’s history, Sawant said people had protected temples, traditions and deities during Portuguese rule despite attempts to suppress Sanatan Dharma.
“The Portuguese had launched an assault on Sanatan Dharma in Goa. Temples were demolished to stop people from practising their faith. Many Goans migrated to other regions to protect their deities and religion,” he said.
Sawant further announced that a new temple would be constructed at Koti Teerth on Divar Island in memory of temples destroyed during Portuguese rule, adding that work on the project would begin soon.
He said Goa was witnessing a revival in spiritual and temple tourism, and added that restoration of temples, development of spiritual circuits and rebuilding of heritage temples reflected the government’s commitment towards preserving Goa’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The programme was organised as part of a nationwide initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture to commemorate 1,000 years of unbroken faith linked to the sacred Somnath Jyotirling and celebrate India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
As part of the Goa celebrations, Omkar Jap and Abhishek Puja programmes were conducted at 21 temples across the State. The main event at Shree Goveshwar Mahashiv Temple featured collective Omkar Jap, the Somnath Sankalp pledge, devotional bhajans, plantation of a Bael tree, screening of an animated film on Somnath, and live streaming of the national programme from Somnath in Gujarat.