A six-day visit to Goa by a delegation from Mizoram under Yuva Sangam Phase VII strengthened cultural ties and people-to-people connections between the two states through educational visits, industrial exposure and shared cultural experiences.
Hosted by the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Goa under the Ministry of Education’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, the programme, held from October 10 to 16, exposed the delegates to Goa’s traditions, religious heritage, tourism destinations and technological and industrial facilities.
The delegation was welcomed at Dabolim Airport by NIT Goa coordinators Dr Aparup Biswal and Dr Ravi Prasad, along with student ambassadors. The visit began with an orientation programme addressed by NIT Goa Director and Yuva Sangam Phase VII Nodal Officer Dr Shivnarayan Patidar.
The delegates visited Birla Mandir and the Naval Aviation Museum at Vasco da Gama. They also toured NIT Goa’s academic departments to understand the institute’s educational facilities and engineering programmes.
The visit to Tanshikar Spice Farm offered insights into Goa’s agricultural heritage, while an interaction with Padma Shri awardee Sanjay Anant Patil provided an opportunity to learn from his experiences. The delegation also visited Mangueshi Temple to explore Goa’s religious and architectural traditions.
Cultural exchange took centre stage during a cultural evening at NIT Goa, featuring Goan folk forms such as Fugdi, Dhalo and Dekhni, a skit on Goa’s heritage and performances by the Mizoram delegates.
Industrial exposure and interaction with Governor
The delegation visited the ONGC Advanced Training Institute at Betul on October 13, where participants witnessed a rescue demonstration at the Sea Survival Centre and received briefings on fire training, industrial safety and oil and gas sector training facilities. The visit was followed by excursions to Cabo de Rama Viewpoint and Palolem Beach.
A key highlight was the delegation’s interaction with the Governor of Goa at Lok Bhavan. The Governor spoke about the role of religious diversity in strengthening human values, mutual respect and national integration, emphasising harmony and peaceful coexistence among different faiths and traditions.
The programme concluded with a valedictory ceremony at NIT Goa on October 16. Shri Naresh Grover, Director, Regulation Bureau, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Coordinator of Yuva Sangam, and Lt Cdr Akhil Sharma, Assistant Director, AICTE, attended as chief guests.
At the concluding ceremony, Dr. Shivnarayan Patidar, NIT Goa Director, addressed the gathering and spoke about the programme’s role in promoting national integration and cultural understanding among young people. The chief guests spoke about the importance of youth exchanges, experiential learning and lasting inter-state connections. Certificates of participation and souvenirs were distributed to the delegates.
The six-day visit provided the Mizoram delegates with first-hand exposure to Goa’s cultural heritage, educational institutions and industrial facilities.
