Complaint lodged with police about Christians destroying grass on the land of ‘Shankhawal Tirthakshetra Goushala Trust’ by encroaching and illegally parking vehicles
Vasco – It is the third consecutive year of celebrating feast by churches on the land of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’, which is under control of Archaeology Department where Vijayadurga Devi temple existed earlier. This feast will be celebrated on 16th January. A group of Christians encroached upon the premises of ‘Shankhawal Tirth-kshetra Gou-shala Trust’, destroyed grass on its land and made arrangements for parking of vehicles. The ‘Gou-shala Trust’ has lodged a complaint with Director General of Police and demanded necessary action against the concerned persons. It has been further stated in the complaint lodged by this Trust that ‘Gou-shala’ of ‘Shankhawal Tirthakshetra Goushala Trust’ is near ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’, the place under control of Archaeology Department where stray cattle are taken care of. Presently, there are 75 cattle animals. The Trust is doing this job with own money. On 4th January, a group of Christians including Santan Vaz, Illise bao Vaz, Francis Fernandes, Pedro Fernandes, Johnnie Carvallo etc encroached upon the place where cattle is grazed; cut grass on the land and took it away. They also destroyed saplings of cashew planted there. Attempts were made to call police by calling on No. 100 for assistance but police didn’t come for help. (Had similar complaint been lodged by Christians, would police take similar stand? Hindu Rashtra is therefore, necessary to change this situation ! – Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) All grass has been cut and stolen from this place; therefore, there is no grass left for cattle to graze. Later, on 5th January, same persons illegally entered Trust’s place and put up board indicating the place was meant for parking of vehicles. On 31st May 2019, a mob of Christians led by the above persons had illegally entered our premises, thrashed us and tried to kill us. No case has been filed till now despite lodging complaint against them. Action should be taken against the above mentioned persons.
Organization of feast for the third time at the place owned by Archaeology Department known as ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’
Construction to hold feast started without CRZ’s necessary permission
Please note that the so-called progressive factions and human right activists from Goa never say a word against fanatic Christians’ forcibly grabbing Hindus’ religious places ! It shows their fake secularism !
Sancoale : Frontispiece of Sancoale, a place under Archaeology Department where there was Shri Vijayadurga Devi’s temple earlier, was used for the third consecutive year by local Church to hold feast to be celebrated on 16th January. ‘Novena’ for the same is starting from tomorrow i.e. 7th January. Marquee has been erected at this place for holding feast without taking necessary permission of ‘Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ)’, is the accusation made by local residents. Dr. Kalidas Vayangankar, a local resident said while giving detailed information in this connection, “Land of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’ is just 50 metres distance from Zuari River and taking permission of CRZ for any kind of construction is mandatory; but on inquiry made with CRZ office, it was observed that CRZ’s permission was not taken.”
Govt. and police inclined towards Church !
Dr. Kalidas Vayangankar gave additional information about pending issue of illegal tree-cutting for organizing feast at ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’. He said, “In January 2018, for the first time, feast was held at ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’ and many trees owned by me near this place were cut for facilitating people visiting this feast to park their vehicles. . On lodging complaint with the Government officers, the concerned officer issued stay on cutting of trees till further decision was taken; however, this order was lifted by the said officer during 7th and 16th January 2018 for making arrangements for the feast and not to hurt religious sentiments. After 17th January, though there was restriction imposed till further decision was taken, there was trespassing in my land for illegally mowing grass etc. Police and local administration did not extend expected cooperation despite lodging complaint against the same.”
Church word was added to the name plate of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’
The board has been put up by the Church and it is wrongly written as ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale Church’. The Government has declared it as heritage site and in its notification, name of the place has been mentioned as ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’.
Government declares 16th January as ‘Restricted Holiday’ on the occasion of St. Joseph Vaz feast
The State Government has declared 16th January as ‘Restricted Holiday’ on the occasion of St. Joseph Vaz feast.
Conspiracy of Church to develop Hindu pilgrimage place around Shri Vijayadurga Devi Temple in the name of St Joseph Vaz !
O devotees of Shri Vijayadurga Devi, please note that descendants of fanatic Portuguese still exist and save Devi’s ancient pilgrimage place from getting totally destroyed !
‘Shankhavali’ is an ancient pilgrimage place in Goa. It is located at Sankwal (Sancoale, erstwhile Shankhavali) village in Sasashati taluka of Goa. Reference of ‘Shankhavali’ village and its ancient glory is found in the 266 year-old book called ‘Konkanaakhyaan’. One can get an idea of the importance of this pilgrimage place by reading pages 45 to 56 of Chapter 2 of a book called ‘Saashti Mahima’. 500 years ago the Portuguese religious fanatics destroyed Shri Vijayadurga Devi Temple located here and it seems that their ‘traditions’ are still followed by the Church and local Christians of Shankhavali. Hindus need to raise their voice against these things.
By Dr. Kalidas Vaigankar, ‘Vastu’- Consultant
Church has been organizing a fest in the name of St Joseph Vaz for last 2 years at the place where earlier Shri Vijayadurga Devi Temple existed (Frontispiece of Sancoale, an archaeological site). On the night of 10th March, 2019 a large and 5 small ‘Crosses’ were planted illegally at this place. A complaint has been lodged by Prashant Vast (President, Niz Goenkar Revolution Front) with the Archaeology Department, demanding prompt action against the same.
The complaint by Prashant Vast states that ‘Father Lewis Alvares and Goa’s Archbishop have used brute force to construct a total of 6 ‘Crosses’, in an unauthorized manner at the archaeological site of Frontispiece of Sancoale; even though currently there is not a single church there. The local church had been shifted to Shindoli village. The ‘Our Lady of Health’ chapel constructed here is unauthorized.
After the Archaeology department declared the Frontispiece of Sancoale as a protected monument, the Our Lady of Health chapel was built in 1994. This is an unauthorised construction. The Archaeology Department should immediately remove the Crosses erected illegally overnight.
The original place of Shri Shantadurga shrine is at Kavale in Kelshi and a platform was constructed there to facilitate religious rituals of Hindu devotees; but in February 2018 the then Director of Archaeology Department, Blossom Madeira demolished it within 48 hours of receiving complaint. Now, Prashant Vast of ‘Niz Goenkar Revolution Front’ had demanded that the same promptness should be shown by Archaeology Department in taking action against the unauthorized construction at Frontispiece of Sancoale; but even after 8 months, the Archaeology Department has taken no action.
High handed behaviour of the parish priest !
A local parish priest has erected a gate and locked it to prevent devotees from visiting the archaeological site
Though ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’ is an archaeological site, it is a public place. Archaeology Department has no objection to people visiting this place which has been clarified by this department on 15th December 2017 while replying to a question. Even then, the local parish priest has erected a gate this year and locked it up to prevent Hindu devotees and others from visiting this site.
This unauthorized activity by the parist priest and church has created displeasure among the locals
There is an atmosphere of displeasure amongst local Hindus regarding the parish priests and and church’s activities of putting up unauthorized ‘Cross’ and a gate to prevent visitors to the archaeological site of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’. People feel that it would lead to law and order problem in future if the Government failed to take prompt action.
Court verdict creates favourable atmosphere to allow Hindu devotees to celebrate festival at place where Shri Vijayadurga Devi Temple existed !
The Church has been organizing a fest for the last 2 years at the archaeological site of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’. The Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court in its recent verdict has stated that organizing festival at the archaeological site of ‘Frontispiece of Sancoale’ would not cause any harm to the site. Experts opine that this has cleared the way for organizing Shri Vijayadurga Devi festival by devotees. Efforts are on to materialise the same.
