The large turnout turned the once-abandoned village into a vibrant centre of faith and memories, with thousands visiting to witness the rare sight of Kurdi, which emerges from the waters of the Salaulim Dam for a short period every year.
This year’s festival saw a record turnout, much higher than expected by the organisers. Preparations for the traditional mahaprasad were initially made for around 8,000 devotees. However, the number of visitors reportedly crossed 12,000, putting pressure on arrangements and traffic management.
As the zatra coincided with a Sunday holiday, heavy traffic movement towards Kurdi began early in the morning. Long queues of two-wheelers and four-wheelers were seen on all roads leading to the village. Many devotees had to park their vehicles at a distance and walk nearly four kilometres to reach the temple for prayers and blessings.
The rush near the temple remained heavy throughout the day, with devotees standing in long queues to seek blessings of Lord Someshwar. Traffic congestion reportedly stretched for nearly four kilometres, making movement difficult in the area.
Police personnel deployed at the site faced a tough task managing the crowd and traffic. Sanguem Police Inspector Ditendra Naik personally monitored the arrangements to ensure the celebrations concluded peacefully without any untoward incident.
Sources said several elderly devotees, unable to move ahead due to the crowd and long walking distance, offered prayers midway and returned. Despite the heavy turnout and logistical challenges, the annual zatra concluded in a devotional and festive atmosphere.
