The annual Lairai Devi Zatra commenced amid a deeply spiritual atmosphere at Shirgao, with thousands of devotees from various parts of Goa and beyond gathering at the venue. Devotees thronged the temple premises throughout the day, with many participating in the ritual before proceeding for darshan and offering prayers to the Goddess Lairai. The mood this time has been distinctly different. Quieter, more watchful.
Last year, the stampede left a deep scar, not only on the village and devotees, but on Goa as a whole. What should have been a night of devotion and celebration at the Lairai Devi festival quickly spiralled into chaos and panic, leading to the deaths of six people while many others were injured. Not only did the tragedy draw national attention, but it also raised uncomfortable questions for the organisers and the government.
Back then, Shirgao’s narrow lanes were choked with people. Devotees poured in from across Goa, all eager to seek blessings, but the infrastructure was woefully short of coping with the turnout. Stalls obstructed the pathways, wires hung overhead, and movement became increasingly difficult as the night wore on. The worst part was that while the zatra continued on its sacred path, treading dangerously, the disaster management system and other authorities watched.
This year, the village felt more prepared. The main approach to the temple has been cleared and widened, creating a more open, manageable flow of people. Stalls have been moved away from critical routes. Overhead wires, once a hazard, have been laid underground. There is better lighting, and CCTV cameras now keep watch across key points, allowing for quicker responses if something goes wrong.
But these visible changes are only part of the story. In the months leading up to the festival, officials have worked behind the scenes—running mock drills, increasing police presence, setting up emergency services, and tightening traffic control. The effort reflects a clear intention: to ensure that what happened last year is not repeated.
While no stone has been left unturned to ensure a seamless experience for devotees, the memory of the tragedy lingers. It comes up in conversations, in quiet recollections of that night of 2025. There is grief, but also a shared understanding that things had to change. Part of the grief emanates from the fact that authorities turn a blind eye to such dangers and only react to loss of life. That’s unfortunate. The systems put up this year at Shirgao could have been installed last year or before that, when the danger lines were as clear as daylight.
The Shirgao Zatra remains an important cultural and religious gathering for Goa, one that draws thousands each year. What has changed is the recognition that tradition must be supported by responsibility. Protecting people doesn’t take away from the spirit of the festival, it strengthens it, and the government of the day has a bounden duty towards this. It is sad that till today no penal action has been initiated against those implicated in the fact-finding committee report on the 2025 stampede.
Moving on from the tragedy of 2025 may never be easy because there was a terrible cost, marked by the loss of innocent lives. Even as time softens the pain, it is certain that each year, amid the prayers and rituals, there will be a moment of silence for those who never made it back home.
