IN PICS | Medaram Jatara: Devotees offer prayers to tribal deities of Sammakka-Saralamma

On the fourth and final day of the Medaram Jatara, the Sammakka Saralamma deities, accompanied by tribal priests, were ceremoniously taken to nearby forests amidst drum beats as part of the ‘Vana Pravesham’ ritual, on Saturday evening.

Approximately 1.35 crore devotees offered prayers to the tribal deities during the Medaram Jatara.  (Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)

On the fourth and final day of the Medaram Jatara, the Sammakka Saralamma deities, accompanied by tribal priests, were ceremoniously taken to nearby forests amidst drum beats as part of the ‘Vana Pravesham’ ritual, on Saturday evening.

Chief ministrer A Revanth Reddy offers prayers to tribal deities Sammakka-Saralamma at Medaram.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan offers prayers to tribal deities Sammakka-Saralamma at Medaram.

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) expressed her gratitude to the state government, Mulugu district administration, and police for the successful conclusion of the Medaram Jatara on Saturday.

Devotees offered ‘Vodi Biyyam’ (sacred rice), jaggery and sarees to the deities at the altars.

Many senior police officers, along with officials from the Mulugu district administration, offered prayers to the tribal deities before the Vana Pravesham ritual took place.

A woman releases a sacrificial country hen into the air.

Despite the conclusion of the jatara, lakhs of devotees continued to throng the village to make their offerings. Typically, devotees keep arriving at Medaram for almost a week after the jatara concludes.

Many devotees who resided in makeshift camps were seen dismantling their tents and departing from Medaram. Roads leading from Narlapur to Pasra and Tadwai to Hanumakonda witnessed heavy traffic congestion.