Shirgao's unique topography makes it a challenge for authorities
Panaji: When the 4.5m wide road narrows to around 3m, and a three-hour window sees around 70,000 'dhonds', special
devotees
of
Shree Devi Lairai
, to walk over the '
homkund
', it presents a significant challenge for
Goa police
and other state authorities to avoid untoward incidents.
The village of
Shirgao
is surrounded by agricultural fields and hills, many of which are now cut to carry out iron ore mining. The village has access from two sides — one is from the Assonora side, and the other from the Poira side. From the Poira side, there are two roads that connect Shirgao — one passes through the mine, and the other is a recently-tarred road.
The distance between the main temple and the 'homkund' is around 1.5km, and people have to pass through this road to visit the temple or 'homkund', and vice-versa if they have parked their vehicles either on the Poira or Assonora sides.
There is no other road that can be used by devotees to reach the temple and 'homkund'. As many shops are erected during the jatra, the width of the road becomes 3m. When the village of 2,000 people witnesses over 1 lakh visitors for the jatra, the road is completely choked, and people cannot walk, let alone bring vehicles. Police usually keep their vehicles at Assonora or behind the main temple.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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As there is around a three-hour window period to walk on the 'homkund', 'dhonds' try to rush to the 'homkund'. The goddess lights the fire to the 'homkund' at around midnight, and the 'dhonds' start walking from around 2.30am. After having a bath in the pond nearby, they rush towards the 'homkund' to walk on the burning coal. After the walk, they return to their vehicle; if they have parked it on the Assonora side, they have to take the same route yet again, that they took to walk on the burning coal.
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