Goa to build structure to honour Parshuram

Panaji: To try and capitalise on the mythology surrounding Goa’s origins, the Goa government plans to build an iconic structure of a ‘Bow and Arrow’ at Mandrem dedicated to Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
There’s a theory that Lord Parshuram shot an arrow into the Arabian Sea to create the coastal state.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte believes that highlighting Goa’s heritage and spiritual origins could help correct Goa’s party destination image. “Goa is known as Parshuram land. But barring the Parshuram temple at Canacona, there is no other iconic structure in Goa. So, we have come up with the idea of building a bow and arrow structure. We have finalised Mandrem as the place for it and soon we will appoint a consultant to go ahead with the project,” Khaunte said.
He said that construction would be done on the natural rock formations that dot the Mandrem beach after obtaining the necessary permissions. Khaunte said that a consultant will be appointed to design the structure. The tourism department’s empowered committee has given an in-principle nod to build the structure.
The minister said that Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar came up with the idea because of the presence of a sacred fire pit or ‘Yagnakund’ at Arambol village.
The tourism department’s consultant, KPMG, has also been asked to revisit the tourism masterplan for Goa and make fresh recommendations and changes to reflect the requirements of tourists post the Covid-19 pandemic.