Devotees in limited number allowed to Mutyalamma Jathara in Nellore

Nellore: The 100-year-old Mutyalamma temple is located in Turpu Kanupuru village in Chillakur Mandal in the district. Now, very limited number of devotees are seen during the Jathara.

During normal days, the Jathara attracts lakhs of devotees from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka besides AP. Devotees say this is the first time in the history that the temple is witnessing low attendance of devotees due to restrictions on the people due to coronavirus. Now, huge police forces have been deployed for monitoring the situation at the temple. The Rapid Action Force teams have been sending away the people and were allowing devotees from five villages of the Panchayat. Officials are now requesting the devotees not to visit from other parts fearing the spread of the coronavirus. The Jathara is organised for four days from Tuesday to Friday.

The temple was said to have been constructed in the early 90s by Simhadri Ramalingayya Setty. Since then, they started conducting local festival in Turpu Kanupuru. Villagers of Edalavaripalem, Posinavaripalem and Ravulavaripalem also attend the Jathara as a tradition.

The tradition of organising three-day Jathara has been continued till 1982 and it was subsequently made four-day fest. The temple was in a small thatched shelter till 1962 and then a structure was constructed. Since 1991, the endowments department is taking care of the temple.

There is a prediction that around 3-4 lakh people visit the temple during the four-day event.

With a view to prevent the spread of coronavirus, officials are not allowing large gathering at the festival. APSRTC also cancelled special trips to the village for witnessing the festival planning to minimize the attendance.