FAITH MEETS FEAR: The lake near Vetaal temple in Porvorim, used as a Visarjan site, is unusually deep, leaving devotees anxious during immersion rituals.
Even as the State government has been making concerted efforts to ensure peaceful and incident-free Ganesh idol immersions across Goa, concerns are being raised over inadequate safety measures at certain immersion sites.
One such spot is the small water body located near the Vetaal temple at Porvorim, which has traditionally served as a Visarjan point for devotees in the locality.
However, residents say the lake is unusually deep and poses risks for those who wade in to immerse idols.
“Every year, devotees hesitate to step inside the water body because of its depth. It becomes a matter of faith versus safety,” said Siddharth Nipanikar, a local resident.
“We are only asking for basic safety support so that the immersion rituals can be carried out with devotion and without fear,” he added.
Nipanikar, in a formal representation to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, has demanded that at least one lifeguard be deployed at the site between 7 pm and 10.30 pm during the immersion days.
According to him, the presence of trained personnel would not only reassure devotees but also ensure a quick response in case of emergencies.
“Having a lifeguard stationed there will give people confidence and prevent any untoward incident. We don’t want a festive occasion to turn tragic,” Nipanikar added.
Local residents argue that while major Visarjan points in cities and coastal belts are well attended by police, fire services and even disaster management teams, smaller village sites often get overlooked.
“We understand that resources are stretched, but even a single trained lifeguard with basic equipment can make all the difference,” said another Porvorim resident who regularly participates in the Visarjan.
