By Our Special Correspondent
Tirupati Municipal Corporation Council has decided to celebrate 'Tataiahgunta Gangamma Jatara' in a grand manner from now onwards. The council met here on Saturday and approved its annual budget for 2022-23. The Council estimated a total income of 362.72 crore while the total expenditure will be to the tune of Rs 354.04 crore. During the meeting, MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy proposed to celebrate Gangamma jatara in a big way as the temple has more than 600 years of history and the goddess is considered as the sister of Lord Venkateswara.
Mayor Dr R Sirisha and Commissioner P S Girisha have announced that the Corporation will extend all its cooperation for it from this year onwards. It was also decided to celebrate Tirupati city Formation Day celebrations by the Municipal Corporation every year on February 24.
Even now, the devotees don different attires as per traditions on each day and go around the streets. The festival begins with 'Chatimpu' (official announcement) on May 10 this year and concludes on May 17.
About 1,225 volunteers, who collected 90 per cent user charges to the tune of Rs 31.22 lakh will be given an incentive of five per cent as an encouragement. Many roads, drains and side canal works were approved which include laying of road from Renigunta main road to Pent Coastal church with an estimated cost of Rs 1.82 crore and CC road in Raghavendra Nagar with Rs 40 lakh.
The folk festival is considered as 300 years old and according to temple legend, Goddess Gangamma was born in a village 'Avilala' on the south of Tirupati, when a local chieftain known as 'Palegadu' was harassing women in a big way. When the Palegadu outraged the modesty of Gangamma, she vowed to kill him following which he had gone into hiding at a remote place.
On the first day, people don Bhairagi Vesham followed by Banda Vesham, Thoti Vesham, Sunnapu Gandalu, Dora Vesham, Mathangi Vesham on subsequent days while on the last day Jatara will be held.
After the midnight of May 18, a clay idol of Gangamma called 'Viswaroopam' will be installed in front of the temple from which the cheek will be removed following traditions. Later the devotees take away the clay to their homes with devotion which marks the end of the jatara. Police will make elaborate security arrangements while civic corporation will take care of sanitation, drinking water and other arrangements. There is a fond belief among the denizens that they should visit the temple during the jatara days and offer prayers to the Goddess.
Comments