Six Dead, Over 80 Injured in Stampede at Shri Lerai 'Jatra' Festival in Goa
6 people died and over 80 were injured in a stampede during the Shri Lerai 'Jatra' held in Shirgaon, Goa on Friday night. The injured were immediately admitted to Goa Medical College (GMC) and North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa.
The incident took place when a large number of devotees had gathered to participate in the traditional 'Jatra'. There was chaos in the huge crowd, which led to a stampede-like situation and a stampede broke out. The condition of one of the injured is said to be critical while the others are out of danger.
As soon as the incident was reported, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant visited North Goa District Hospital and Bicholim Hospital to take stock of the situation. The CM met the injured and inquired about their treatment and directed the officials to provide all necessary medical facilities.
What is Lairai 'Jatra'
Lairai Devi is a revered Hindu Goddess who is mainly worshipped in Goa, especially in Shiroda village in South Goa. The temple dedicated to Lairai Devi is an important spiritual center for the locals and devotees from nearby areas.
Lerai Devi Jatra also known as Shirgaon Jatra is a major religious and cultural festival of Goa celebrated every year in Shirgaon village of Bicholim taluka in honour of Lerai Devi. This Jatra takes place in the Hindu calendar in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and lasts for several days. The most prominent feature of this festival is the tradition of fire walking, in which devotees called "Dhond" walk barefoot on burning embers. This ritual symbolizes their faith and spiritual purity.
Before this Agni-Vrat, the devotees fast, pray and do mental preparation, which shows their dedication and sadhana. During this festival, a grand procession of the goddess is taken out, in which traditions like chanting, drums and offering of prasad are performed. Thousands of devotees and tourists come to participate in this religious ritual and seek blessings of the goddess. Shirgaon 'Jatra' is not only a religious event, but it is also a grand event showcasing the unique cultural heritage of Goa.
