The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : All roads lead to Medaram festival

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Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

All roads lead to Medaram festival

Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao

Sammakka Sarakka jatara to begin today amidst tribal rituals

The deity Sarakka will be brought from Kannepalli village
Sammakka will be put on the altar on Chilkalgutta hillock

Photo: M. Murali

Religious fervour: Capacity crowd converges at the jatara place at Medaram in Warangal district on Tuesday.

MEDARAM (WARANGAL DT.): Medaram village witnessed huge crowds just a day before Sammakka Sarakka jatara on Tuesday and the police had tough time regulating the vehicular traffic proceeding towards the village.

All the roads leading to Medaram and surrounding villages were filled to capacity. As the vehicles were not allowed nearby, hundreds of people were seen reaching the jatara venue by walk. Pilgrims from far off places raised temporary sheds in the surrounding fields. Thousands of shops have come up offering a variety of items from jaggery to liqour besides poultry animals.

Endowments Minister J. Ratnakara Rao who was at the village for darshan, interacted with the officials on duty. District Collector K. Damayanthi was camping in the village overseeing the arrangements and attending to the complaints.

On Wednesday evening, the tribal pujaris will bring Sarakka from the Kannepalli, a village eight kilometres away from the Medaram.

The ritual

On Thursday evening, the tribal pujaris will trek the Chilkalgutta hillock located 2 km.from the jatara site to install Sammakka at the altar. Both deities adorn the altar on Friday considered to be auspicious. On Saturday, the deities will unmount the deities with rituals and leave them in the forests until next jatara According to officials, 70 to 80 lakh pilgrims are expected this time.

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