The State government has decided to organise the forthcoming Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara, one of the biggest tribal festivals, in a befitting manner.
Scheduled to be held between January 31 and February 3, the Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara attracts devotees from within the State as well as different parts of the country on the lines of Kumbh Mela. Chief Secretary S.P. Singh reviewed the arrangements being made for the festival with senior officials on Thursday.
He directed them to prepare plans for attracting national and international tourists to the festival. The departments concerned could utilise international channels, blogs and social media in this direction and efforts should be made to provide comfortable stay for the visitors coming from abroad.
Special officer
A special cell should be created in the Tourism and Culture Department to supervise the arrangements and conduct of the festival. The government on its part had decided to depute senior official Vakati Karuna who worked as Warangal Collector in the past as special officer. Steps should also be taken to invite ministers holding Tribal, Tourism and Culture portfolios in different States in addition to tribal MPs for the festival.
Adequate care should be taken to ensure cleanliness and sanitation during the Jatara while special brochures should be released to explain about the significance of the festival. Steps should be initiated to provide helicopter services to intending visitors and security should be beefed up so as not to give scope for any untoward incidents, he said.
