Medaram jatara: Asia’s biggest tribal festival to begin from Feb 16

Hyderabad: Tribal Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod on Sunday said elaborate arrangements had been made for the successful conduct of Asia’s biggest tribal festival – Sammakka Saralamma jatara in Medaram from February 16.

Heavy vehicles that are arriving at Medaram from different parts of the State and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will be diverted from Tuesday. Devotees can avail accommodation facilities through separate apps developed in the run up to the festival.

The district administration in Mulugu has accorded top priority ot maintain proper queues apart from maintaining constant vigil through surveillance cameras installed at the temple and its surroundings. Police personnel in ‘mufti’ will be deployed in large numbers to keep a tab on those trying to create problems during the festival and thieves, the Minister said.

In addition, SHE teams will also be deployed to enable women to lodge complaints against eve-teasers. The Minister said that instructions were already issued to officials concerned to give top priority to maintain hygiene at the temple and its surroundings.

“There should not be any laxity in ensuring proper sanitation during the festival,” Satyavathi Rathod said, asking officials from all the departments concerned to work in coordination to make the festival a grand success. The police department is using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the movement of queues.

“We are also using technology for proper traffic regulation and maintaining sanitation,” the Minister said. Drinking water facility would also be provided in queues. In the wake of Covid-19 cases, the administration has increased the strength of health department staff to attend to any eventuality.

Apart from setting up Covid testing centres, officials established isolation centres for those who tested positive. Distribution of face masks and sanitizers would be taken up on a large scale, she added.

The Minister advised devotees to strictly follow Covid-19 safety protocols and have darshan of the goddesses of Sammakka Saralamma during jatara.