PONDA: The roads to Shirgao were closed but this did not stop the path to devotion. Devotees (dhonds) of Goddess Lairai, 26 of them from the village of Marcel, maintaining social distancing fasted and undertook the three days of religious rituals and baths within the village.
Usually prior to the zatra, the devotees (Dhond) would gather at a common place, erecting pandals and fasting, but as they could not visit Shirgao this year due to the lockdown, the devotees fasted and worshipped the Goddess in their own villages just as they did in the past.
The villagers in Marcel performed all the rituals by placing a picture of goddess Lairai. The Dhonds said they will visit the Goddess as soon as the lockdown is lifted to offer their worship and blessings.
