Old Goa: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is on a two-day visit to Goa, visited the historic Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa on Wednesday and expressed admiration for its spiritual and historical significance.
Kumar visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site along with his wife during his visit to the coastal state.
“It was an honour for my wife and me to visit this holy church, the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and understand its spiritual and historical value, as well as the serenity of this entire place. My wife and I are both overwhelmed,” Kumar said after the visit.
The Chief Election Commissioner is in Goa as part of his two-day visit to interact with election officials, including Booth Level Officers, and participate in programmes related to electoral literacy and ECINET.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus, located in Old Goa, is one of the most prominent landmarks of Goa’s Christian heritage. Construction of the basilica began in 1594, and it was consecrated in 1605. The church houses the relics of St. Francis Xavier, the 16th-century Jesuit missionary whose remains have attracted pilgrims from across the world. The Basilica forms part of the Churches and Convents of Goa, which were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
