MAPUSA
In stark contrast to the usual vibrant and crowded celebrations, the final day of the Shirgao zatra unfolded in sombre silence this year, under the watchful presence of a heavy police force and district administration officials.
The once-vibrant village, synonymous with the grandeur of Goddess Lairai’s annual pilgrimage, witnessed a subdued culmination of festivities, as the tragic stampede that claimed six lives last week cast a long, sobering shadow.
What is typically a lively confluence of thousands was instead a scaled-down ritual attended by the mahajans and a select few devotees.
A large number of locals, primarily from Shirgao village, did gather near the temple for the final ceremony; however, a strong police presence restricted access to the temple's mandap.
At the heart of the ceremony was the traditional procession of the kaul “ the symbolic decision of the goddess “ which silently moved through the homkhund area before the kalsa was ceremoniously taken into the sanctum, signalling the official end of this year’s zatra.
“Normally, the entire ritual stretches past midnight. But this time, it ended by 8 pm. There was reverence, but also restraint,” said Hari Gaonkar, a long-time resident of the village.
In response to the deadly incident, the State administration, in coordination with the Devi Lairai Devasthan Committee, swiftly undertook a series of crowd-control and safety measures.
All temporary stalls and vendors lining the road to the temple “ once bustling hubs of food and offerings “ were dismantled by Tuesday afternoon. The village was cordoned off, with access strictly limited to residents and essential participants.
“The priority was to ensure that the remaining rituals proceeded with dignity and in a secure environment,” said a senior district official on condition of anonymity.
Gone were the chaotic surges of previous years when devotees would jostle to accept the kaul, seen as the embodiment of the goddess’s blessings. This year, however, a newfound order emerged.
“In the past, people would almost fall over each other to touch the kaul. But now, without anyone instructing them, they’ve begun to queue. It’s orderly, and it should remain this way,” said Raviraj Chari, a mofussil correspondent of a local vernacular daily.
The contrast could not have been more striking: the traditional rituals were conducted without the usual chorus and the village roads were eerily quiet.
The zatra's muted end has left an imprint on the psyche of Shirgao.
“We used to prepare for this day for months. It brought pride and excitement. This year, it brought grief. But maybe also a chance to change how we do things,” said Priya Naik, a resident from a neighbouring village.
From Wednesday, normalcy is expected to return.
Devotees can continue to visit the temple for individual worship, but the crowds will disperse and Shirgao will slowly fade from the headlines.
For its residents, it will be a return to quiet routines “ carrying forward memories of a festival that, this year, became a moment of reckoning.
