Looking at the sea of humanity assembled at Medaram for the ongoing Sammakka-Sarakka jatara, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called it ‘Tribal Kumbh Mela’.
The Vice President reached here on Friday on a chopper and offered special prayers to tribal deities. He presented silk and yellow coloured sarees to Sammakka and Sarakka respectively. Following the customs, he also offered his weight in jaggery. The tribals consider jaggery as gold and offer it to the deities.
Permanent facilities
Speaking to the media, the Vice President said he felt happy to see large number of people participating in the jatara. Later in the afternoon, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao arrived here with family and offered prayers to the deities.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said earlier he had always prayed to the deities to help achieve separate Telangana. Now, he prayed the goddesses to silence those opposing the irrigation projects in the State.
The government had sanctioned ₹200 crore for making permanent arrangements for the jatara, the Chief Minister announced and pointed out that there was a need to clear the area and extend the altar to provide better amenities to the pilgrims. This required 100 acres land, he added.
Thanksgiving visit
“The Medaram jatara was neglected in the united Andhra Pradesh. Now, it will witness development. The local leaders have made excellent arrangements for the jatara,” he said. The Chief Minister said he could not attend the jatara last time due to ill health and so he came this time to offer thanks giving prayer for fulfilling the aspiration of achieving separate Telangana State.
Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Endowments Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy and several other leaders were present.
The police arranged several helipads close to the altar to facilitate the visit of VIPs.
