DIVINE FIRE: Devotees light the Homkund of Lairai Devi at Shirgao on Tuesday.
BICHOLIM
The annual Lairai Devi zatra which attracts lakhs of devotees began in a deeply spiritual and festive atmosphere at Shirgao on Tuesday.
Thousands of devotees from across Goa and other States visited the temple throughout the day. Many performed ritual bath in the sacred pond before proceeding for darshan and seeking blessings.
Among the large number of devotees visiting the temple and offering prayers to Goddess Lairai included Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who sought the blessings of Goddess Lairai for the health, prosperity, and well-being of the people of Goa and humanity at large.
Speaking to the media after the darshan, he said that the administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the festival this year.
In the wake of last year’s incident, authorities—including the police department, district administration, and other agencies—have been working for several months to ensure proper planning and execution.
The Chief Minister appealed to devotees to cooperate with the administration and maintain discipline during the festivities, including the traditional fire-walking ritual.
Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye and other political leaders also visited the temple and prayed for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of all devotees.
Elaborate security arrangements were in place, with a strong police presence ensuring smooth crowd management. Traffic, parking, and overall logistics were well-organised, and roads in the area remained largely congestion-free until the afternoon.
Officials, including Police Inspector Vijay Rane and Deputy Collector Shubham Naik, supervised the arrangements under the guidance of senior authorities.
A significant surge in crowd is expected late at night, and the administration remains on high alert to manage the situation efficiently.
