VASCO
This year’s Saptah began on a grand scale at the Shree Damodar Temple in Vasco, but with heightened caution and crowd control, especially during the main rituals.
Police personnel were heavily deployed and access restrictions were implemented inside the temple to prevent any overcrowding. Devotees were seen lining up in long queues outside the temple, waiting to offer prayers once the rituals concluded.
Speaking to media persons, Prashant Joshi said, “We have taken extra efforts to manage the crowd and ensure everyone’s safety. In view of recent incidents like the stampede at the Lairai Jatra, we decided to impose access restrictions during peak rituals.”
Joshi added that inspections were conducted by government agencies and officials at the Collector level in the lead-up to the festival.
“Some officials had never seen the Saptah fair before, and considering the possibility of a mad rush, they recommended precautionary measures.”
“We have hundreds of karyakartas who’ve worked tirelessly—from arranging barricades and managing crowds to setting up the stage and raising donations—for the smooth conduct of the 126th Saptah.”
“For the first time, the temple and surrounding fair area have been insured. The MMC has supported this move, and we hope it sets a precedent for other major festivals,” Joshi said.
