Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara begins at Medaram

Mulugu: The biennial Sammakka-Sarakka jatara, popularly referred to as Telangna’s ‘Kumbh Mela’, began at Medaram in the district on Wednesday.

More than one crore pilgrims from different parts of Telangana as well neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, are expected to visit the four-day jatara. Though the jatara commenced formally on Wednesday, pilgrims have been thronging the shrine from last 15 days.

Officials estimated that 40 lakh pilgrims have had already visited the holy place. Both tribals and non-tribals visit the shrine. The jatara was declared a State festival in 1998. Keeping in mind the heavy rush of pilgrims, the State government made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of



the jatara by allocating Rs 75 crore this year.

From makeshift toilets to battery taps at the Jampanna Vagu to solar street lights have been set up. The shrine and its surroundings were decked up for the event. 

While the Police Department has deployed around 12,000 police personnel for ‘bandobast’, traffic regulation, and crowd management; 350 CCTV cameras have been set up. A total of  3,450 sanitary workers have been appointed for cleaning of Medaram surroundings for pre-jatara, during-jatara and post-jatara.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and several other VVIPs are expected to visit the Jatara on February 7.