Tirupati: Civic chief presents ‘sare’ to Gangamma

Tirupati : On the second day of the annual Gangamma Jatara, the ardent devotees following the age-old practice, in Banda Vesham (guise) offered prayers to the folk Goddess on Thursday.

The salient feature of the annual folk Goddess Jatara was the locals particularly the youth and children offer prayers daily in the guise of various characters like Bairagi, Banda, Thoti, Sunapukundalu, Dora and Matangi veshams (guise) to the Goddess.

On Thursday, the devotees in Banda vesham smeared red vermillion (kunkum) all over the body, put a garland of wild flowers around their neck and had darshan while the hereditary devotees in Golla vesham offered prayers to the Goddess. The shrine was thrown open for darshan after Abhishekam and Alankaram, the special decoration of the deity at 6 in the morning to cope with the rush, said temple executive officer Munikrishnaiah adding that more than 10,000 devotees had darshan by noon.

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner D Haritha along with her family offered ‘Sare’ to the Goddess and had darshan. The Commissioner came in a big procession led by city MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Corporation Mayor Dr R Sirisha, Corporators, officials and also others including devotees in various mythological characters --devas and asuras (demons) to the accompaniment of traditional music and dance to the shrine.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Karunakar Reddy said that this year the annual Jatara was celebrated on a grand scale on the lines of the Tirumala Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara, attracting large number of devotees and also people offering Sare, including leaders, officials and others.

Tirupati Brahmana Samajam members led by its president Balaji, secretary K Ajaykumar, senior member K Pramilamma also came in a procession and offered Sare to the Goddess.

Rayalaseema Rangasthali, a city-based cultural association president Gundala Gopinath Reddy along with association members and stage artists offered Sare and had darshan of Gangamma.