Special Correspondent
Panaji: Stating that the preparations for the annual Jatra of Lairai Devi at Shirgao, commencing on April 21, have been completed, the temple committee on Monday said that all safety measures are in place and that police and temple volunteers will manage the crowds.
Temple committee president Dinanath Gaonkar said that everyone will be permitted to attend the Jatra, and that there will be no restrictions on visitors.
“However, everyone, including the ‘Dhonds’ will have to behave responsibly,” he said, informing
that a mock drill would be conducted in and around the temple premises on April 18.
Last year, during the fire-walking ritual at the jatra, a late-night stampede killed at least half a dozen people and injured over 80.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Gaonkar said that the committee has already spent
Rs 15 lakh on the installation of 92 CCTV cameras across 14 temples in the vicinity, including the Lairai temple, as well as the ‘Dhondachi Tali’ and ‘Homkhand’ areas.
“We have faced a significant financial burden and hence had to seek sponsorship of Rs 3 lakh from the Sadguru Foundation for barricading the area surrounding the temple,” he said, adding that inside the temple there would be no barricades as they would disturb the religious rituals.
Gaonkar further said that only nine stalls would be allowed from the main road to the temple, and they would sell only water and cold drinks, while 25 stalls would be permitted in the area behind the temple.
He said that four meetings have been held so far under the chairmanship of the North Goa Collector and that, as per the recommendations, the Public Works Department has reduced the slope at the stampede site.
Replying to a question, Gaonkar said that the Mahajans of the temple did not support the government proposal to accord State Festival status to the Lairai Jatra. “In fact, they felt that this status would allow the government to intervene in matters of the festival, including rituals.”
Answering another question, he said that registrations of around 20,000 ‘Dhonds’ have been received. “However, we have not given them cards yet,” he said, adding that the registration process would continue after the Jatra.
