Shirgao is a village in the Bicholim sub-district (taluka) of Goa, which is popular for its annual temple[1] festival that includes fire-walking traditions.
[2] On the night of the zatra, an estimated 20,000[2] dhonds—men and women from diverse parts of Goa and the nearby Konkan region—walk through the homkhan, over a burning charcoal bed.
The official Goa Tourism site describes[7] the festival thus: In the early hours of the morning when the fire has died down, the raking of the coals begins.
The Jatra reaches its conclusion as the sun rises in the distant hills.GoanFestivals.in says[6] that "One of the most looked forward event in the Hindu calendar of religious festivities is the fire walking held at Shirgao, near Assanora in the Bicholim Taluka."
The Vedanta-owned SRL, Goa, and its subsidiary Sesa Mining Corporation Limited extract iron ore from 11 mining leases covering 980 hectares (2,400 acres) in Goa in Bicholim and Surla, both together account for approximately 90% of SRL's total estimated iron ore reserves as of 31 March 2016.