At the 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, dedicated important marine projects to the country. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, will take the required actions to empower coastal communities surrounding the lighthouses to preserve and promote the lighthouses—the rich legacy of India’s marine sector—during the valedictory session held here, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also announced. Additionally, the Union Minister announced the construction of two new lighthouses on the Odisha coastline: one at Dhamra in the state’s Bhadrak district and another at Chaumuck in Narayanpur in the Balasore district. Mohan Charan Majhi, the chief minister of Odisha, joined Sonowal for the second Indian Lighthouse Festival.
In order to empower and enable the communities around lighthouses, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal declared that the nation’s coastal settlements will be established as societies. The goal of the endeavor is to encourage community members to be proud of the lighthouses for their promotion, preservation, and protection. To provide national impetus to commemorate lighthouses as national symbols and cultural legacies of India’s thriving maritime industry, a single association comprising all these groups would be established.
In addition to two projects in Padadip Port, Odisha—a flyover bridge and a stacker-cum-reclaimant—the new Kalwan reef lighthouse in Jamnagar, Gujarat, was also opened. On the second day of the second edition of the diverse Indian Lighthouse Festival, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also launched a number of events, including a beach run, beach yoga, a boat art competition, and a sand art competition. Additionally, Sonowal oversaw a Swachata Abhiyan at the Niladri beach, where the group’s combined efforts resulted in the elimination of trash.
During the celebration, prominent figures from the domains of education, sports, and culture were congratulated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha. Oriya poet and literary figure Dr. Haldar Nath, football player Sasmita Malik, social activist Sujit Mahapatra, sand sculptor Om Prakash Sahu, Odishi dancer Mamta Ojha, artist Dr. Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi, and Mariner Nividita Acharya were among those honored. Additionally, eight staff members of the Directorate General of Lighthouse & Lightships (DGLL) received recognition for their excellent work.
Earlier, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal officially opened the second iteration of the Indian Lighthouse Festival. In its second iteration, the event sought to revitalize India’s famous lighthouses’ rich nautical heritage in a lively cultural setting. Among many other fascinating acts, the event featured folk dance and music, seaside huts, an amusement park, and delicious flavors of coastal cuisine.
Sessions on “Lighthouse Tourism & Heritage” and “Preservation and conservation of Lighthouse” were held throughout the festival’s first day.
