People worship tigers because they are at the apex of the food chain, according to renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, who also said that large scale development in Goa, has forced the state’s tiger and sloth bear populations to struggle for survival.
Kerkar was speaking on the subject of ‘Ecology: Goa’s Artistic and Spiritual Thinking’ at a panel discussion at the Museum of Goa, as part of the latter’s ongoing interactive series ‘MoG Sundays,’ in which transdisciplinary artist Waylon D’Souza, Act For Goa Co-Director Maya de Souza, eco-spiritual artist Miriam Koshy and Rector at the Seminary of Our Lady, Saliga., Fr. Valeriano Vaz, participated.
“Why do people worship the tiger? Tiger is the apex of the food chain. And here in Goa, you will find more than fifty temples dedicated to the tiger god. Tribal people (have also) protected a forest called Vagregal (name derived from the local nomenclature for tiger, wagh),” said Kerkar, who has been vociferously articulating the need for the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary to be upgraded to the status of a Tiger Reserve.
“On one side, you can see huge development taking place and on the other side, you have the tiger population, the sloth bear population, all struggling for their survival” he said.
The panel highlighted the synergy between art, ecology and spirituality, featuring eco-spiritual artist Miriam Koshy. Using her acclaimed installation Mhadeiche Rakhondar (Guardians of the Mhadei), inspired by the Mhadei river water sharing controversy, Koshy showcased art’s role in ecological awareness. The installation, celebrating Goa’s biodiversity and seven guardian spirits, became central to the ‘Mhadei Amchi Mai’ festival, fostering awareness and highlighting the need to protect Goa’s fragile ecology.
“In the face of relentless news cycles, I prayed for an army of rakhondars to protect our Mhadei, standing in solidarity with her and honouring her,” Koshy shared. “Art is a powerful tool to remind us that we are part of a greater ecosystem—one that is not above other species, but intricately connected to them,” she said.
Waylon D’Souza, added his perspective on the power of art in fostering ecological change. “Art that transcends the boundaries of the white cube gallery space, especially when supported by policy and decision-makers, has the potential to make a real difference in how we approach environmental issues, ” he said.
Another panellist, Fr. Valeriano Vaz, asserted that people from different religious and cultural backgrounds must stand united and preserve the ecology. “Spirituality is unification,” he said, adding that he hoped that oneness among people was critical to creating a positive impact in the conservation of Goa’s ecology .
Maya de Souza of Act for Goa commented, “Goa’s spiritual traditions and modern artistic world are informing communities and bringing people together to safeguard our precious landscape and ecology.”
