Mesram tribals’ 150-km trek for Nagoba Jatara begins

Over 100 members of the Mesram tribal clan have begun their traditional barefoot trek of more than 150 kilometres to fetch Ganga Jal from the Godavari river for the Nagoba Jatara in Adilabad. The water, drawn in a 1,400-year-old brass vessel from Hastanamadugu in Mancherial district, will be used for rituals and idol cleansing.

Adilabad: Facing biting cold, over 100 members of the Mesram tribal clan embarked on an arduous trek of more than 150 kilometres to fetch holy water, or Ganga Jal, from the Godavari river at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on Tuesday evening, as part of the annual Nagoba, or serpentine god, jatara.

The five-day religious and cultural fair is scheduled to culminate on January 18. As per tradition, the Mesrams draw the holy water in a jhari, a 1,400-year-old brass vessel, from a spot known as Hastanamadugu near Kalamadugu village in Mancherial district.

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After offering prayers to the river goddess and performing prescribed rituals, the water is collected for use in cleansing idols and conducting ceremonies during the jatara.

The Mesrams are expected to reach Kalamadugu on January 7 after walking barefoot for nearly 75 kilometres through forest and hilly terrain across Narnoor, Lingapur and Dasturabad mandals.

They will return to Indervelli mandal headquarters on January 14 and offer special prayers at the Indrayidevi temple before camping under banyan trees at Keslapur. The Mahapuja will be performed on January 18.

Preparations for the jatara have already begun, with the clan undertaking traditional publicity through bullock-cart processions in villages and placing orders for clay pots required for rituals. Significantly, the Mesrams exclusively use clay pots and utensils crafted by a family of potters from Sirikonda mandal headquarters.

Nagoba Jatara is the second-largest tribal congregation after the biennial Sammakka Saralamma jatara at Medaram. Devotees gather annually in large crowds.