The Shri Shakti Ganapati Prassana temple at Karmalghat-Canacona.
CANACONA
Will the Shri Shakti Ganapati Prassana temple at Karmalghat be under threat during the 4-laning of NH66 highway between Bendurdem and Char-Rasta in Canacona?
The recent demolition of the Dev Shri Khapreshwar Temple by the side of the highway in Porvorim to enable construction of the elevated corridor has raised concerns in Canacona over the future of the temple at Karmalghat.
According to sources, the temple gained prominence sometime around 2007-08 when a Keralite living in Canacona found the root of a tree resembling Lord Ganesha on the edge of one side of the NH66 highway. Devotees began to flock to the site and offer prayers.
Highway motorists also began to halt and pray for a safe and enjoyable journey ahead.
A structure was constructed over a period of time and presently, a pujari conducts pooja twice a day, and a Mahapooja on Tuesday. During the month of Shravan, food is cooked and served to over 400 people on Tuesdays.
A committee has been elected and registered to look after the day-to-day affairs of the Shri Shakti Ganapati Prassana temple.
“The place has become sacred and people turn up in large numbers to worship Lord Ganesha at the Shri Shakti Ganapati Prasanna temple at Karmalghat. People, including non-Hindus, have a lot of devotion attached to this place of worship,” said the Temple Committee Chairman Sanjeev Dessai.
When asked if authorities have approached the committee in view of the recently approved work to widen the NH66 road to a 4-lane from Bendurdem to Char-Rasta including the Karmalghat section, Dessai replied in the negative.
“So far, nothing has been heard from authorities, nor have we approached them. However, through sources and enquiries, we have been given to understand that the temple will not be relocated but it will be retained in-between the 4-lane road,” said Dessai.
“However, if any proposal comes to relocate the site, we will first discuss within our committee and accordingly take the opinion of the devotees before responding to the government's proposal.”
“On average, 400 people come for lunch, and we have to maintain a waiting list for people willing to sponsor lunch and patronise the Mahapuja at the temple. We certainly don't want a repetition of Porvorim’s Khapreshwar temple at Karmalghat.”
Incidentally, a number of motorists stop to offer pooja and to partake in lunch at the Karmalghat temple, creating a traffic hazard on the already narrow Karmalghat road. A similar situation arises whenever any Mahapuja or important religious activities are held, and police teams have a hard time regulating traffic.
The forest department had objected to the construction of a structure at the site, while the PWD (highways) had also sought to stop development at the site, following claims of some tree-cutting and hill-cutting at the site. The Canacona Deputy Collector stopped further work at the site.
But with the 4-laning of NH66 highway planned at Karmalghat, both authorities and devotees will need to take a decision on the Shri Shakti Ganapati Prassana temple.
