BICHOLIM: The famous zatra of Goddess Lairai will be celebrated, on Thursday, with religious fervour at Shirgao-Bicholim. 

The festival is expected to attract thousands of devotees from all over Goa and neighbouring States.

The Shirgao zatra is also famously known as Dhonanchi jatra or Homkhanachi jatra. The jatra celebrations begin with the invocation of Lord Ganesh on Chaitra Shudha Amavashay. 

On the eve of jatra in the afternoon koul (blessing) is taken from the Goddess Lairai, after that the people proceed to a place called Muddi on the boundary of Shirgao village and clean that place.

The special tradition of the zatra is the treading of the coals by dhonds (devotees). Between 2 am and 5.30 am, thousands of dhonds have bath in the ‘Dhonachi Tali’ and seek blessing from the Goddess and walk over the burning coals barefoot. Thousands of people and tourists throng to Shirgao to witness the event.

If a dhond is hurt while going through the fire, he has to take blessing from the Goddess and it is believed that he would be cured within few days.

The Lairai temple committee has made all the arrangements for the zatra and all the authorities including the police and fire force officials have been stationed at the site.