Wall posters of Jangu Bai jatara released in Adilabad

The annual Jangu Bai jatara will be held at a cave temple in the forests of Kotaparandoli village, Kerameri mandal, from December 22 to January 17. Tribal devotees from Telangana and neighbouring states will participate in the religious fair

Adilabad: The annual Jangu Bai jatara will be celebrated at a cave temple of the deity in the forests of Kotaparandoli village in Kerameri mandal from December 22 to January 17. Wall posters of the religious affair were released by ITDA in-charge Project Officer Yuvaraj Samrat in Utnoor on Friday.

Members of the organising committee and priests said that the Jangu Bai jatara would formally commence with the performance of ‘Divve Niruswal’ or lighting a lamp representing the deity on the first day. Devotees will prepare a special ‘naivedyam’ and offer it to the deity by performing prayers. Later, some devotees sacrifice hens and sheep to goddesses Maisamma, Pochamma and Ravudk as a token of gratitude for their wellbeing.

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Tribals from several parts of the erstwhile Adilabad district and neighbouring Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh flock to the temple and offer special prayers as per their traditions and customs. They take a dip in a pond locally known as Toplakasa before entering the abode of the deity formed in a cave believed to have existed for 25,000 years.

Devotees arrive at the holy spot carrying bamboo baskets on their heads, beating drums and playing traditional instruments such as Sannayi, Kalikom and Tudum. The baskets contain ingredients required for preparing dishes to be presented to the deity and for performing prayers. The fair is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Pushya or Poos.

Artistes from tribal communities present dance shows and cultural programmes, enthralling the devotees. The hilly environs of the shrine would come alive with the arrival of hundreds of tribals.