P

Hundreds of tribals thronged Paderu in Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Sunday as the three-day annual Sri Modakondamma Ammavari Jathara began with religious fervour in Alluri Sitharama Raju district. Devotees from various tribal hamlets across the Agency region arrived carrying traditional kalasas on their heads and offered prayers to the presiding deity at Sri Modakondamma Temple.

The festivities commenced with the ceremonial procession of the deity’s utsava vigraham, sacred ‘padalu’ and ‘ghatams’, amid devotional chants, drum beats and traditional folk performances. The procession witnessed participation from a large number of tribals and devotees from various parts of North Andhra.

District Collector T Nishanthi, Joint Collector T Sri Pooja, elected representatives, temple committee chairman, MLA Matsyarasa Visweshwar Raju, former MLA Giddi Eshwari, along with officials and devotees, participated in the inaugural rituals. Temple priests conducted special pujas after the festival idols and sacred offerings were ceremonially brought with turmeric, vermilion and silk clothes. The procession later moved through the streets of Paderu.

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the festival. The district police ensured the queue lines moved freely without any issue. Additional RTC bus services were operated for devotees arriving from remote tribal areas and neighbouring districts, while police deployed extra forces to maintain law and order.

On the occasion, a rally was taken up with cultural programmes, which began from the ITDA office till the temple. Tribal art groups from Seethampeta, Parvathipuram, Rampachodavaram, Chintoor and Paderu presented Kommu Koya, Dhimsa and Koya dance forms.

The district administration set up a special control room at the Sub-Collector’s office in Paderu to assist devotees during the festival. A landline number 08935-250228 or WhatsApp number 9281856953 was provided for assistance and emergency support during the jathara celebrations.

A fair organised as part of the jathara added to the festive spirit in the hill town. Cultural programmes, traditional tribal dance performances and food stalls attracted huge crowds and enthralled devotees visiting the temple premises and surrounding areas.