Thousands of devotees of Chittoor town and surrounding mandals on Tuesday thronged the district headquarters town and offered pujas to Goddess Nadibazar Veedhi Gangamma Thalli as part of the week-long Gangamma Jatara. In the early hours, the hereditary dharmakartas of the festival initiated the pujas followed by Ambali ritual (made of rice, ragi and curd). From dawn to late night, multitudes of devotees took part in the Ambali ritual, pouring ambali into the barrels kept near the deity before collecting some part from the giant vessel. Youth were clad in sarees and traditional families also wore veshams (attires) as part of their vows. Enthusiastic public smeared in kumkum, gandham and viboothi went round the town. The Jatara will conclude on Wednesday evening, with immersion of the idol of the goddess at Kattamanchi tank, preceded by various feats of awe by the locals, including pulling lorries with hooks attached to their bodies. Meanwhile, the Shakti temples at Obanapalle, Santhapeta, Doddipalle, Murakambattu, Girimpeta and Kondareddy Palle localities witnessed jataras at their respective areas.
