MAPUSA
The annual Shirgao Zatra turned tragic in the early hours of Saturday morning when a stampede at the revered temple site led to chaos, widespread panic, injuries and deaths.
While the official cause remains under investigation, eyewitnesses and local voices are pointing to internal disorder among the participating dhonds and a lack of adequate infrastructure as key contributors to the incident.
According to Mahadev Thanekar, a Dhond from Mayem who was present at the scene, tensions among the participants had been simmering for some time before the disaster unfolded.
“Just before the stampede, there were at least two or three scuffles among the Dhonds,” Thanekar recalled. “Suddenly there was a surge – a huge wave of people pushing forward and in seconds, it was like watching a pack of cards collapse.”
Thanekar, who was in line for the ritual of Homkhond when the stampede struck between 3.45 and 4 am, described the terrifying scene as hundreds scrambled to escape.
“It was frightening. I jumped over a fence to get away. Others did the same, scaling stalls and breaking through barriers,” he said.
POOR INFRA,
HUGE CROWD
Eyewitnesses described how narrow roads and temporary stalls lining the ritual path exacerbated the situation.
The Homkhond route, set on a slope, left little room for maneuvering once the crowd began to surge.
To add to the panic, strings of overhead lighting wires fell during the melee, sparking rumours of an electrical shock.
“That only made things worse. People didn’t know whether to run from the crowd or from a perceived electric hazard,” Thanekar said.
COMMUNITY
TENSIONS
In the aftermath, some from within the Dhond community have expressed frustration over what they see as a growing disregard for discipline and spiritual focus.
Yashwant, another senior Dhond, said the recent years have seen an unchecked rise in the number of participants.
“Earlier, being a Dhond came with responsibility and reverence. Now, anyone wants to join – children included – without understanding the depth of the tradition,” he said.
He advocated for restrictions such as an age limit or eligibility criteria to curb the rising numbers.
“The core of the ritual is getting diluted and it’s also becoming dangerous,” Yashwant added.
REFORMS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
In the wake of the stampede, pressure is mounting on both the State administration and the temple committee to overhaul the festival's infrastructure and crowd management policies.
Suggestions include widening access routes, reducing the number of stalls, installing barricades and instituting tighter controls over ritual participation.
“There needs to be a serious re-evaluation of how this event is managed. Without that, we are risking lives every year,” said a local organiser who wished to remain anonymous.
As the dust settles over this year’s Shirgao Zatra, one thing is clear: unless swift and sincere measures are taken, the sanctity of the tradition may continue to be overshadowed by chaos and risk.
