Stampede at Goa’s Lairai Temple leaves six dead

At least six devotees lost their lives and over 30 others were injured in a stampede at the revered Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, Goa, in the early hours of Saturday. The tragic incident occurred during the temple’s famed annual festival, drawing crowds from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Authorities are investigating the precise cause of the stampede, with a senior police officer stating that more details will emerge following a full inquiry.

Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed the injury toll, adding that eight people remain in critical condition. Two severely injured devotees have been transferred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim for advanced treatment.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “heart-wrenching tragedy” and pledged full support to the victims and their families.

The Lairai Devi temple, renowned for its unique blend of northern and southern Indian architecture, becomes the focal point each May for the Shirgao Jatra — a dramatic and deeply spiritual festival. Among its key rituals is the fire-walking ceremony, where barefoot devotees run across burning embers in a test of devotion.

Thousands gather for the event, which builds in intensity as midnight approaches. Devotees dance in circles inside the temple, rhythmically clashing sticks while drums echo through the night. The climax arrives when a chosen participant lights a towering bonfire, after which the fire-walking ritual begins.

With garlands discarded on a sacred banyan tree and the first rays of dawn breaking the horizon, the ancient festival traditionally draws to a close. This year, however, joy turned to mourning as the community grapples with an unexpected tragedy.