Porne Tirth, Divar, 5 September: In what the Goa government has described as a historic step towards reclaiming the State’s civilisational and cultural heritage, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant performed Udakshanti and Gangapujan to mark the commencement of the revival of the original site of the Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple at Divar after nearly 450 years.

The revival is being undertaken as part of the Koti Tirth Corridor Development Project, which seeks to rejuvenate the sacred landscape associated with the historic temple while retaining its historical and cultural character.

Speaking on the occasion, Sawant said the original site of the Shri Saptakoteshwar Devasthan represents an important chapter in Goa’s civilisational history and that its revival is aimed at restoring a cultural memory that has endured for centuries.

The proposed development will encompass the sacred landscape stretching from Mahadevachi Tali to Koti Tirth and Hatkeshwar Ghat, with the government stressing that preservation of the area’s historical character will remain central to the project.

‘Dev, Dharma and Desh’

Sawant said the philosophy of “Dev, Dharma and Desh” would guide the government’s efforts to preserve Goa’s religious and cultural heritage.

He said the Saptakoteshwar revival was not merely about developing a religious site, but about reconnecting future generations with an important part of Goa’s history and identity.

The Chief Minister maintained that restoring such historic sites was part of the government’s larger commitment to preserving Goa’s heritage and passing its cultural legacy on to coming generations.

‘Vikas with Virasat’

Sawant linked the project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of combining development with heritage conservation.

“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we remain committed to development with heritage and Vikas with Virasat,” the Chief Minister said.

The commencement of work at Porne Tirth assumes particular historical significance given the centuries-old association of Shri Saptakoteshwar with Goa’s religious and cultural history.

The government expects the Koti Tirth Corridor project to bring renewed attention to Divar’s sacred heritage while creating an integrated corridor connecting historically and spiritually significant locations in the area.

With the ceremonial Udakshanti and Gangapujan, the government has formally set in motion what it describes as a historic revival of the original Saptakoteshwar site after 450 years, placing heritage restoration alongside infrastructure development as part of its cultural agenda.