Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: The Shree Lairai Saunsthan’s Kaul Prasad ritual, which attracts large crowds every year, has again come under scrutiny after a recent incident on Day 5 of the event. Dinanath Gaonkar, the President of the Saunsthan, has urged both dhonds (priests) and devotees to cooperate in managing crowd sizes and preventing future incidents.
In his statement today, Gaonkar expressed concern over the growing number of attendees during the ongoing ritual.
He particularly pointed to the overcrowding that typically occurs on Day 5, warning that it could lead to dangerous situations if not properly managed.
“Dhonds and devotees must work together to avoid overcrowding,” Gaonkar said, emphasizing that safety should be a shared responsibility.
However, Gaonkar also indicated that the recent unrest was not caused by external factors but rather by someone within the community.
“It seems like this incident was instigated by one of our own,” he said, referring to the incident as a disruption that could have been avoided.
He further warned that the fallout from the incident would likely impact both the Committee and the government.
“The blame will ultimately fall on the Committee and the government,” Gaonkar stated. “If we don’t take preventive action, we will continue facing accusations of negligence, and the repercussions will be severe.”
The President also called for government intervention to prevent such incidents in the future. He suggested that local authorities step in with stronger crowd-control measures and better event management to ensure safety for all involved.
This statement has raised questions about the role of the local government and community leaders in managing large religious events, particularly during peak days when the crowd numbers swell.
As the Kaul Prasad rituals continue, the authorities now face increasing pressure to address safety concerns and implement measures to regulate crowd size, especially on high-traffic days like Day 5.
