Chittoor town and surrounding villages are gearing up for ‘Gangamma Jatara’, which scheduled to commence from Monday midnight.
The festival has a history of over 150 years. Unlike regular Jataras elsewhere in the district, the Chittoor Jatara is unique. There is no temple dedicated to the Goddess Gangamma, but her idol made of clay and turmeric is installed on the busy Bazaar Street during the festival. After Jatara, the idol is immersed in the nearby tank.
The highlight is that thousands of people from across Chittoor district and neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka arrive in Chittoor town to take part in the Jatara on the invitation of their relatives. The festivities will begin on Monday midnight, with thousands of youth converging at the Bazaar Street junction to witness the consecration of the idol. After pujas by Dharmakartas devotees proceed for darshan of the goddess. It will go on till Wednesday evening. During the two days, the public wear various attires (‘veshams’) as part of their vows. Sheep and birds are sacrificed at the nearby Ponniyamma temple and temples of the Goddess Shakti in and around Chittoor town. Thousands of women will take part in the lighting of ghee lamps at these temples.
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Chittoor Superintendent of Police Ghattamaneni Srinivas instructed the local police to make elaborate bandobast arrangements for the event.