Team Goemkarponn
BICHOLIM: In the wake of the recent stampede during the Devi Lairai Jatra, the temple committee has imposed strict entry restrictions for the upcoming fifth day of the annual festival.
Temple Committee President Dinanath Goankar announced on Monday that no outside devotees will be allowed to participate on the fifth day of the Jatra, with access restricted exclusively to the ‘Chowgules’—a traditional group associated with the rituals.
“As a precautionary measure, we have also instructed the Mamlatdar to ensure all stalls are removed from the temple premises up to the site of the stampede incident by tomorrow afternoon,” Goankar stated.
The move comes amid heightened concerns over crowd safety after the recent incident led to injuries and raised questions about event management at the popular religious gathering.
Authorities are working to implement tighter controls to prevent a recurrence.
The Devi Lairai Jatra, held annually in the village of Shirgao, attracts thousands of devotees from across Goa and beyond.
