The much-awaited Sammakka Sarakka jatara got underway with the arrival of Sarakka from Kannepally village on Wednesday evening.
The tribal priests huddled into a small temple at the village located four kilometres away from Medaram village. They offered prayers for hours invoking goddess onto them before coming out of the temple.
The deity was accorded all traditional honours by a group of tribal priests and district officials.
The arrival of Sarakka signified the official beginning of the largest tribal festival.
Braving the surging crowds who tried to touch the priests carrying the goddess Sarakka, the police rope party made it possible for the priests who virtually sprinted towards the altar at Medaram village. Scores of men and women in wet clothes slept across the path wishing the priests to walk over them as they consider it as a good omen.
The devotees took a holy dip at Jampanna vagu before proceeding to Kannepalli village. The priests also wade through the stream avoiding the bridge as is their tradition.
Believing that a dip in the Jampanna vagu heals all the diseases, people in large numbers vied with each other to make their way towards the rivulet. It was known as Sampenga vagu until the Jampanna, son of Sammakka jumped to death fighting the imperial Kakatiya army.
The police had difficulty in escorting the tribal priests bringing deity Sarakka as every inch of the space is occupied and everybody trying to touch the priests.
It is the custom of the state government officials to accompany the tribal priests all through the way protecting them from menacing crowds and also in honour of the tribals and their sentiments.
The full scale of jatara begins on Thursday evening when the tribal priests bring the deity Sammakka from Chilkalgutta hillocks and for one day on Friday both the deities adorn the altar. It is the most auspicious day for the devotees.
District collector Mr Krishna Aditya, SP SSG Patil, and several other officials were overseeing the rituals and smooth conduct of festivities there.
Chief minister Mr K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to visit Medaram village on Friday, the day being the most auspicious to offer prayers to tribal deities.
Officials are busy making elaborate security arrangements in view of chief minister’s visit.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao