The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal is going to inaugurate India’s First Lighthouse Festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse tomorrow. The three-day festival from 23rd to 25th September, will be celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country in an effort to transform these historic spots as tourist destinations. The inaugural session will also be attended by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant; Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Naik as well as Tourism Minister of Goa, Rohan Khaunte among others.
Sonowal, earlier launched a campaign ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ to transform 75 historic lighthouses into ‘Tourism Spots’. The historic lighthouses are being renovated with adequate facilities to act as tourist spots. The festival is logical outcome of this campaign by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) to transform 75 historic lighthouses across India into tourism spots. This is in line with the visionary approach of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform India’s distinctive lighthouses into captivating tourism sites. The initiative aims to showcase the rich culture, significance, and allure of these magnificent structures whereby they can propel prospect of tourism and power local economy.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “It is a moment of great happiness for everyone in the team at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways as we begin this historic Lighthouse festival across the country from tomorrow. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain committed to the cause of nation building. Lighthouses, that were long ignored from any potential value creation beyond their role as navigational tool, were identified by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji to be developed into a touristic point of view and allow them to become lynchpin of local tourism and, at the same time, generate income for the country. Modi ji shared this vision with all of us during the 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat and we are happy that this wonderful idea has now become a reality. While ships continue to be guided for safe sailing by these lighthouses, they will now offer their solace to people to relish the magnificent beauty of nature.”
This would be a gala event in carnival style with local artists, dance troupes, food and culinary stalls, music concerts and similar activities to attract common people to Lighthouses.
Interestingly, the Ministry is bringing together historians, archaeologist, cultural anthropologist and many other people with interest in history, culture and society to this event. They would be sitting along with leaders of the travel and leisure industry in Goa.
On 23rd September at 2.30 pm, the Cabinet Minister would participate in a two-hour long session, ‘Vanguards of Our Shores: Lighthouses as Testaments of India’s Past and Present’ where famous historian and archaeologist, Prof. Vasant Shinde of the Rakhigarhi fame, would be talking about the historical significance of Lighthouses in India’s maritime history and development of it’s ports and port towns. Another experts from history and culture arena in the session are Dr. Sunil Gupta, Maritime Archaeologist and OSD at the Pradhanmantri Sangrhalaya, New Delhi; and Dr. Vasu Uspakar, Director of the Goa State Museum. This session is being organised by another initiative Bharat Pravah, which is working towards the cultural-historical-social significance of ports, shipping and waterways in the India.
This session would then have a presentation by the Joint Secretary – Lighthouses of the Ministry who would present Ministry’s approach towards the Lighthouse Heritage Tourism Development and the investment opportunities across 75 Lighthouses in this phase. After this, the floor would open for investors for Q&A Open-Session around investment opportunities with the Cabinet Minister and Secretary being present there.
This in it’s own way, a novel initiative where the Minister and Secretary are doing a kind of road show to attract investors to develop these Lighthouses and also the gala three-day event to attract the general public towards Lighthouses as tourism hubs. For this, in the evening of 23rd September, Saturday the Cabinet Minister would be inaugurating the India’s First Lighthouse Festival at a public gathering in a gala event of cultural performances by local and renowned artists including concert by famous singer, Shaan at the Fort Aguada in Goa.
The Fort Aguada would be decked up for this festive carnival like event and on the day two, there would be performance from local dance troupes, local artists and celebrity artist Suresh Bhonsle. On the final there would be a performance by famous singer, Hema Sardesai along with other cultural and musical events by different artists and groups.
The event would close on the evening of 25th September in the presence of Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for MoPSW and Tourism; Shantanu Thakur Union Minister of State for MoPSW; and senior bureaucrats from the MoPSW including Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary and DDG, DGLL.
The key highlights of India’s First Lighthouse Festival are cultural exhibitions, session highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, melodious evenings with celebrity singers, flavours of the coast and community engagements.
