Medaram draws huge crowds

Medaram (Mulugu): Although the main Sammakka-Saralamma jatara was culminated on February 8, Medaram was abuzz with devotees on Wednesday. It may be mentioned here that aboriginals regard four Wednesdays as most auspicious for them.

On the first Wednesday, two weeks before the commencement of jatara, they celebrate Gudi Melige, then Manda Melige on the following week. The jatara commences on the third Wednesday. The subsequent Wednesday is known as Tiruguvaram, with which the jatara comes to an end for the Adivasis.

The hereditary priest family members - Kaka, Chanda and Kokkera - on Wednesday celebrated Tiruguvaram by offering special rituals to the tribal deities Sammakka–Saralamma. It's a practice that wearing new clothes, they head to Sammakka-Saralamma deities' altars after cleaning their residences and performing rituals. Meanwhile, the temple witnessed a huge rush with over 50,000 devotees descending on Medaram. It's said that those who missed to offer prayers during the main jatara turn to Medaram on the fourth Wednesday.

Medaram trust board chairman A Rammurthy and priests performed special rituals at Sammakka, Saralamma and Pagididdaraju temples in the Medaram. On the other hand, the sanitation workers continue to clean the garbage piled up in and around Medaram.