Medaram turned radiant on Friday night as the sacred forest and temple precincts were illuminated with electric lights, creating a spectacle likened to a full moonlit festival. With the arrival of Sammakka, Saralamma, Pagiddidda Raju and Govinda Raju at the holy gaddelu, devotees marked the occasion of the ‘Nindu Jatara’—the peak of the Medaram Mahajatara.

Medaram attracted thousands of devotees from all over Telangana who were joined by numerous tribal people from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. RTC buses and private vehicles brought continuous streams of pilgrims. Devotees formed extended lines to reach darshan, as they needed almost three hours to see the forest goddesses. The devotees performed their offerings to the deities through deep devotion which included gold and rice and turmeric and saffron, as they competed to touch the gold which remained on display.

Jampanna Vagu Sees Massive Gatherings

The areas around Jampanna Vagu witnessed heavy crowds as devotees took holy dips, while elders performed rituals along both banks. From the stream to the gaddela premises, the entire stretch remained densely packed. Several dignitaries also visited Medaram during the Nindu Jatara, including Governor Jishnu Dev Verma, state ministers, public representatives, political leaders and senior officials.

Jatara to Conclude Today

The Medaram Mahajatara will conclude on Saturday with the Sammakka Vanapravesham ceremony, scheduled after 4 pm. Officials estimate that nearly 80 lakh devotees have visited the jatara in the last three days since Saralamma’s arrival on Wednesday. A further surge in footfall is expected on the final day.

Crowd, Traffic Challenges Trouble Devotees

Despite elaborate arrangements, devotees faced difficulties due to lack of coordination in crowd and queue management. Confusion over routes to the gaddelu and the removal of separate queues for VIP and VVIP pass holders caused inconvenience. Traffic congestion was severe on routes from Pasra to Tadwai and Medaram, with vehicles stranded for over two hours at peak times.

Governor Offers Gold to Goddesses

Governor Jishnu Dev Verma and his wife Sudha Dev Verma visited Medaram on Friday afternoon, arriving by helicopter. They were welcomed with traditional tribal dances and instruments by Minister Seethakka, Mulugu Collector T.S. Diwakara and SP Sudhir Ramnath Kekan. The Governor offered gold using traditional weighing scales before seeking blessings of Sammakka, Saralamma, Govinda Raju and Pagiddidda Raju.

Tragedy Amid Devotion

A 68-year-old devotee named Shobharani from West Maredupalli of Secunderabad died from suffocation while she waited in a crowded line on Thursday night. Rescue teams faced multiple challenges before they could transport her body to a government hospital. The last rites were performed on Friday evening.

Minister’s Vehicle Attacked

Meanwhile, Minister Adluri Laxmankumar’s vehicle was vandalized on Thursday night when unidentified persons allegedly threw jaggery bags at the car, breaking a window. The incident occurred amid a power outage and heavy crowd near the gaddela area. Police further said that the details were being verified.

Despite the difficulties faced, the Medaram Mahajatara, continuously, managed to draw huge devotion, asserting itself as one of the largest tribal festivals in Asia.