New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his joy regarding the inauguration of the Indian Lighthouse Festival at Goa's Aguada Fort. He expressed his satisfaction with the growing enthusiasm for lighthouses as prominent tourist destinations.

In response to a post by Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, on "X," PM Modi stated, "I am delighted to witness the increasing interest in lighthouses as significant tourist attractions. Allow me to share my thoughts on this during my Mann Ki Baat address."

Union Minister Sonowal had previously announced via a series of posts on 'X' that he, along with Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union MoS Shripad Y Naik, inaugurated the inaugural Indian Lighthouse Festival at Goa's Aguada Fort.

The Indian Lighthouse Festival aims to celebrate lighthouses, which have been integral to maritime navigation and have, throughout history, captivated ships and tourists with their mystique and scenic beauty.

Sonowal inaugurated the inaugural edition of the 'Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav' or Indian Lighthouse Festival at Goa's historic Fort Aguada on Sunday. The festival's primary objective is to revive India's rich maritime history, featuring the stories of 75 iconic lighthouses from around the country. The event at Fort Aguada was attended by Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Sonowal remarked, "With the launch of this festival, we are commencing the process of revitalizing the age-old treasures found in 75 lighthouses along India's coastlines. Our goal is to unveil the rich heritage of these iconic sites and present them to the world. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing toward becoming a self-reliant nation."

"In this noble endeavor of nation-building, we aim to bring Prime Minister Modi's vision to life by transforming these iconic lighthouses into hubs of education, culture, and tourism," he added.

Sonowal also expressed gratitude for PM Modi's vision and leadership in turning distinctive lighthouses into captivating heritage tourism sites. "We extend our gratitude to the visionary leadership of our esteemed leader, Narendra Modi, who championed the transformation of our distinctive lighthouses into captivating heritage tourism sites," he stated.

"For far too long, these silent sentinels of our coastlines have been overlooked, despite providing a beacon of hope to countless sailors and ships during the darkest nights. The 'Lighthouse Festival' is our initiative to change that. Our mission is to inform, engage, and educate all of you about the vital role these historic beacons have played in our nation's history," Sonowal added.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Government of India, aims to use the Indian Lighthouse Festival to strengthen the foundation for public-private partnerships in developing these historic sites into world-class tourist destinations.

The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships has already identified 75 such lighthouses, and this festival stands as evidence of the government's commitment to celebrating and preserving our maritime heritage.

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