Gandhari Maisamma jatara to be held at historic Gandhari Khilla from Jan 30-Feb 1

The annual three-day Gandhari Maisamma jatara will be held from Friday to Sunday at historic Gandhari Khilla in Mancherial district. Members of the Naikpod community from across the State will congregate to revere the deity and take part in cultural programmes.

Mancherial: The stage is set for the annual three-day Gandhari Maisamma jatara at the historic Gandhari Khilla on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta village in Mandamarri mandal from Friday to Sunday. The fair is an important religious and cultural event of the Rodda clan belonging to Naikpod, a Scheduled Tribal community.

According to officials of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA)-Utnoor and leaders of the Naikpod community, elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the fair at the fort. Temporary toilets, lighting systems and drinking water facilities have been arranged, besides a dais to enable Naikpod artists to perform cultural programmes.

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Members of the Rodda clan from across the State congregate at the Gandhari fort and revere the deity on the third day, coinciding with the full moon day of the Hindu month of Magh every year. They ceremonially worship the deity as per their customs and traditions and showcase cultural shows and traditional dance forms during the event.

Water will be fetched from the Godavari river, while Pochamma and Bheemanna deities of the Naikpods will be worshipped before revering Maisamma on Friday. Naikpod artistes will present cultural programmes and dance performances on Saturday night. They perform the traditional dance form Thappetagullu-Pillanagrovi. A darbar will be held for redressing the grievances of tribals on February 1. Aboriginal tribals from various parts of the State and neighbouring Maharashtra make a beeline to the fort to revere the deity. Non-tribals and nature lovers also flock to the holy place to worship the goddess. They sacrifice chickens and goats as a token of gratitude for their wellbeing.

The Gandhari fort is believed to have been built by tribal kings who ruled the region with assistance from the Kakatiya rulers around 900 AD.