Warangal: The district administration is preparing for the mini-Medaram Jatara scheduled from February 12 to 14, under the guidance of panchayat raj minister Seethakka in Medaram, Mulugu district.
Traditionally, the state government organises the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara biennially at the Medaram temple. In the alternating years, temple priests host the Mini-Jatara to accommodate devotees’ schedules. This year’s jatara is set to start on a Wednesday, February 12, continuing through Thursday and Friday, and concluding on Saturday, February 15. Tribal priests will perform special prayers to the deities using turmeric and vermillion.
During a recent meeting with officials from various departments, minister Seethakka pointed to a big rise in the influx of devotees over the past week. She anticipates a further rise in crowds starting the first week of February and urged officials to remain vigilant throughout the jatara period.
Minister Seethakka directed officials to expedite ongoing projects, ensuring the completion of all link roads by January 31. Additional measures include setting up queue lines, providing drinking water and toilet facilities, maintaining cleanliness, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, and enhancing police vigilance for security. Special arrangements will also be made for women pilgrims at Jampanna Wagu.
In response, Mission Bhagiratha officials have started preparations to supply adequate drinking water. Concurrently, the panchayat raj and engineering departments have started road construction, while the endowment department is organising additional shelters to accommodate the large number of devotees expected during the jatara.
With state government-sanctioned funds, the roads and buildings department is undertaking road construction from surrounding villages to Medaram at a cost of ₹17.5 crore. Additionally, guest houses are being built at an expense of ₹3.5 crore. Mission Bhagiratha executive engineer Manikya Rao, after inspecting the Medaram temple and nearby tanks, confirmed a budget allocation of ₹24.7 lakh for drinking water provisions. Measures are being implemented to prevent any shortages during the Mini-Jatara, focusing on key areas like queue lines, Chilakalagutta, RTC bus stand, and Jampanna Wagu through taps and pipelines. Moreover, drinking water will be available within the temple premises via drums for devotees’ convenience.
Panchayat raj officer Devaraj is concerned over waste accumulation due to the growing number of devotees. Local panchayat staff have been working diligently to remove waste around the temple, rest houses, government buildings, and along the main road. To bolster these efforts, 40 sanitation workers from Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, have been deployed to assist in cleaning the temple surroundings.
