Devotees flock to Mulugu as Medaram Jatara begins on a grand scale
Also known as 'Mini Kumbh Mela,' the Jatara honours tribal goddesses and commemorates fight against oppression and injustice.
Hyderabad: Devotees gathered in Mulugu district in massive numbers as Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara began in Medaram on Wednesday, January 28.
The ‘Maha Jatara’ will begin at 6 PM on Wednesday evening with tribal priests installing the deities of Saralamma, Govindaraju, Pagididdaraju at the altar. Sammakka will be installed at the altar at 6 PM on Thursday, January 29.
Medaram Jatara celebrated as state festival since 1998:
Medaram Jatara was announced as a state festival in 1998 and will come to an end on January 31. About 21 government departments and 42,000 personnel are involved in putting the event together, including arrival and departure of devotees, security, cleanliness and medical facilities.
It is estimated that up to one crore tribal people and other devotees will arrive from across the state and from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra. Devotees who show up belong to various tribal sects including – Guttikoyas, Koyas, gonds, lambadas, adivasis among others.
The temple complex has been renovated at a cost of Rs 251 crore. The state government has divided the Jatara area into eight administrative zones and 42 sectors.
TSRTC to deploy 4,000 buses:
Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) will deploy about 4,000 buses to Mulugu district for the festival. About 5,000 health personnel, ambulances, bike ambulances have been arranged for the mega event.
Jatara commemorates fight against oppression:
Also known as ‘Mini Kumbh Mela,’ the Jatara honours tribal goddesses and commemorates fight against oppression and injustice. It is a festival with no brahmanic or vedic influence.