Festive fervour reaches crescendo at Medaram jatara
The Hindu
CM for Medaram today
The festive fervour at the historic Sammakka Saralamma jatara reached a crescendo as the tribal deity Sammakka was brought from Chilakalagutta to the altar in Medaram in tune with centuries-old tribal traditions on the second day of the historic tribal fair in Mulugu district late on Thursday evening.
Hordes of devotees swarmed the nearly one km stretch of the road between Chilakalagutta and Medaram, turning the tiny tribal habitation into a sea of humanity.
As per the age-old ritual, the tribal priests brought a casket of vermillion, symbolising Sammakka, after performing special pujas at Chilakalagutta late in the evening.
Superintendent of Police Sangram Singh Patil fired two rounds into air in adherence to the customary decades-old practice associated with the jatara heralding the arrival of Sammakka from Chilakalagutta.
Mulugu MLA Seethakka, Collector S Krishna Aditya and others were present on the occasion.
Every inch of the available space was occupied by the devotees who huddled around the Chilakalagutta road to have a glimpse of the tribal deity.
The third day of the jathara is considered as most auspicious as both the tribal deities - Saralamma and Sammakka will be at the altar on Friday.
With the clock ticking down to the Lok Sabha election counting day on Tuesday, opposing fronts are perceptibly edgy and poised to continue the rancorous skirmishing that marked the campaign season in Kerala. The United Democratic Front, led by the Congress, is seemingly basking in the “interim victory” granted by various exit polls. The UDF discerns that its poll strategy of turning the polls foremostly into a damning referendum on the Left Democratic Front government’s perceived failures rather than BJP’s “divisive politics” at the national level stood a fighting chance of paying off.