Adivasis stage protest in Bhadrachalam against Bhadradri Temple officials

Adivasi leaders staged a protest in Bhadrachalam after being excluded from the Dammakka Seva Yatra–2025. They accused temple officials of ignoring tradition by not inviting tribal groups. Heated arguments erupted during floral tributes at the Dammakka statue

Kothagudem: Tribals staged a protest in Bhadrachalam alleging that officials of Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam failed to invite them for the ‘Dammakka Seva Yatra–2025’ celebrated on Thursday.

The annual Dammakka Seva Yatra takes place on Ashada Purnima in Bhadrachalam in memory of Lord Rama’s devotee Pokala Dammakka. It has been a tradition to invite adivasi organisations to take part in the celebrations both inside and outside the temple. But this time, the temple officials failed to do so, which angered the adivasi leaders who staged a protest at the Dammakka statue in the town.

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Leaders Punem Krishna, Veerabhadram and others obstructed temple officials and priests when they tried to offer floral tributes to the Dammakka statue at Haritha Hotel centre. This led to heated arguments between the two groups.

This year, the temple organised the Dammakka Seva Yatra at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Venkatapuram, Mulugu district.