Daijiworld Media Network - Shirgao

Shirgao, Apr 22: The annual Lairai Devi Zatra commenced in a deeply spiritual and festive atmosphere at Shirgao on Tuesday, drawing thousands of devotees from across Goa and neighbouring states.

Devotees thronged the temple premises throughout the day, with many performing ritual baths in the sacred pond before proceeding for darshan and offering prayers to Goddess Lairai.

Among those who visited the temple was Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who sought blessings for the health, prosperity, and well-being of the people of Goa and humanity at large.

Speaking to the media after offering prayers, Sawant said that comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the festival. In view of last year’s incident, authorities including the police, district administration, and other agencies have been working for several months on planning and execution.

He also appealed to devotees to cooperate with authorities and maintain discipline, especially during the traditional fire-walking ritual.

Several public representatives, including Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye, visited the temple and offered prayers for peace and prosperity.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place, with a strong police presence ensuring effective crowd management. Traffic and parking arrangements were streamlined, 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.

With a significant surge in devotees expected later in the night, the administration remains on high alert to manage the situation efficiently.