Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and CM KCR visits 'Sammakka-Saralamma jatara'

Jayashankar-Bhupalpally, Feb 02: The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday visited Medaram and participated in Asia's biggest biennial tribal fair 'Sammakka-Saralamma jatara' in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district of Telangana.

Mr Naidu made offerings to the tribal deities--Sammakka and Saralamma-- at the forest village, Medaram, the venue of the Jatara which was preceded by elaborate tribal rituals.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari was among those who accompanied Mr. Naidu.

Tight security arrangements were made at the Jatara site in view the Vice President's visit.

A sea of humanity including women and children have been offering prayers to the tribal deities in the form of vermilion caskets placed on a "gadde" (throne). The people have also been offering, as per the tradition, coconut, country liquor, meat and jaggery to the deities.

The state government which had declared the jatara as a state festival made massive arrangements and spent Rs.80.50 crore for providing amenities for the visitors.

Around 500 doctors, 1,000 district officials and 10,000 policemen have been deployed for the jatara. The State Road Transport Corporation pressed into service hundreds of special buses from different points in the state for the benefit of the pilgrims.

Billed as the 'Telangana Kumbh Mela, more than 1.25 crore people are expected to visit the jatara which began on the full moon day of Magha Masam as per the Hindu Lunar calendar (January 31) and end tomorrow (February 3).