Khammam: Toggudem, a small village under Manuguru mandal, is being spruced up for the Sammakka Saralamma festival beginning from February 17. The residents of the village, which goes by the nickname of mini- Medaram, have readied themselves to extend services to the devotees who are arriving in large numbers, having hung up welcome banners everywhere. Borewells have also been dug, keeping the rush of people in mind.
Unlike Medaram Jatara which is a biennial affair, the Toggudem Jatara is held every year. People from even Odisha and Chhattisgarh come and perform puja there. The village is located on the highway from Bhadra-chalam to Eturunagaram, which enables many devotees stop and pray before proceeding to Medaram. M. Prasad, resident of Toggudem, said that many of the devotees travelling on this route usually stayed for darshan of the Goddesses. In fact, Toggudem became popular because of the festival here was an annual event.
“We are expecting one lakh devotees this year. There is lot of space for devotees to cook too and make their offering to the goddess,” said Sonde Veeraiah, chairman of the Goddesses Temple Committee.
There are 500 families in the village who will be engaged in catering to the rush of pilgrims. They sell items like bangaram (jaggery), bhandari (turmeric powder), roosters, firewood, coconuts, vegetables and other provisions. Midium Padma, a villager, said, “It is an occasion for us to earn some money by selling pooja materials to devotees.” M Prasad, resident of Toggudem said that many of the devotees travelling on this route will stay for darshan of the Goddesses.
