Bhiva Parab
Panaji: Sacred water bodies in Goa—temple tanks, springs near churches, and water sites revered in Islam—play a vital ecological and cultural role but are increasingly threatened by pollution and unregulated development, a recent study has found.
Titled ‘Sacred Waters Across Religions in Goa: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Rituals, Ecology, and Cultural Identity’, the study is authored by Dr Devanand Mandrekar, Research Officer at the Department of Goa Gazetteer and Historical Records and Chief Director of the North Goa Human Rights Federation. It was published in The Academic, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research.
The research highlights how sacred water sites serve not just as places of spiritual renewal but also as natural ecosystems supporting biodiversity and groundwater recharge. Temple tanks, for instance, aid in replenishing aquifers and provide habitats for aquatic species. Similarly, freshwater springs near churches sustain localized flora and fauna. However, the unchecked spread of urban infrastructure, waste dumping, and lack of monitoring are degrading these spaces.
“The sacred waters of Goa exemplify the deep connections between religion, ecology, and cultural identity,” states the study. “Across Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, these water bodies serve as spaces of spiritual renewal, ecological vitality, and communal harmony.”
The paper stresses the need for conservation strategies that incorporate both ecological science and cultural values. It recommends the enforcement of regulations to protect these sites from encroachment and pollution, along with community-led cleanup drives involving religious institutions. Awareness campaigns through schools and public forums are also suggested to educate citizens about the spiritual, cultural, and ecological importance of sacred waters.
Through an interdisciplinary approach combining ethnography, interviews, and field observations, the research examines the rituals performed around sacred water bodies and their role in fostering cultural unity and environmental stewardship.
“By integrating conservation with religious and cultural values, these waters can remain vital for generations to come,” the study notes. It also advocates further research into how sacred water sites globally can serve as models for sustainable coexistence between humanity and nature.
The findings offer a framework for using shared reverence for water across religions as a basis for interfaith collaboration and global environmental conservation.
