Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated the restored Shree Saptakoteshwar temple in a religious and enthusiastic atmosphere at Narve in Bicholim taluka today.
Shri Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, Shipping, Shri Nilesh Cabral, PWD Minister, Shri Subhash Faldesai, Minister for Archaeology, Chhatrapati Shri Shivendra Singh Raje Bhosle, MLA Satara, Shri Vijay Sardesai, Former Minister, Shri Premendra Shet, MLA, Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, MLA, Shri Rajiv Bhosle, Shri Pandurang Balkavde, Key Note Speaker, Shri Siddhesh Naik, ZP Chairman, North Goa, Shri Shankar Chodankar, ZP Member, Unnati Padvalkar, Dy. Sarpanch, Tukaram Gaude, Panch Members. Shri Sandesh Parsekar, Sarpanch, Shri Uday Sardesai, Shri Prithviraj Sardesai, President of Devasthan and others graced the occasion.
Addressing the public after inaugurating the temple at a function organised by Archaeology Department and Shree Saptakotishwar Devasthan Committee, Chief Minister said, the temples destroyed in the past will be reconstructed soon. Government is committed to promote spiritual tourism in Goa, he added.
Chief Minister said, today is the fortunate day for him to have the opportunity to consecrate the shrines of the water deities of various forts in the country on the occasion of the reconstruction of the holy temple.
Chief Minister said the Goa Government will take up the remaining work in the vicinity of Saptakotishwar temple in second phase with the support of central government. He invited scholars to undertake research on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by visiting such places.
Dr. Pramod Sawant congratulated the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for witnessing the celebrations at Narve in Bicholim.
Referring to the work of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shri Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, Shipping expressed happiness for continuing the accepting the work and thoughts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Goans have immense faith in the work of Shivaji Maharaj, he added.
Shri Subhash Faldesai highlighting the history of temple, said Shivaji Maharaj himself came to Goa and rebuilt the temple and helped unity among the people.
Chhatrapati Shri Shivendra Singh Raje Bhosle, MLA Satara, Shri Premendra Shet, MLA, Shri Vijay Sardesai, MLA also spoke on the occasion.
Dr. Nilesh Faldesai, Director, Archaeology welcomed the guests. Shri Govind Bhagat and Smt. Siddhi Upadhey compered the function.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited and renovated the Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narve 350 years ago. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said that it’s a great day to have the opportunity to consecrate the shrines of the water deities of various forts in the country on the occasion of the reconstruction of the same holy temple.
The reconstruction of temple will definitely attract tourists because the scope of work includes providing with new lime plaster – internal and external; providing new cornices and restoration of old cornices and moulding, providing lime concrete on roof and external gutters, providing wood work in frames and shutters of doors and windows, repair of timber joist, recycling and renewing of wooden section, providing new wood work for roofing, oiling on new and old wood work, laterite stone paving around temple, steps of Tall and pathway etc.
