Gandhari Maisamma Jatara revived after two decades

Mancherial: After two decades, the stage is all set for revival of ‘Gandhari Maisamma Jatara’ at Gandhari Khila on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta village in Adilabad district. The three-day Jatara which started on February 19 is all set for a grand congregation of devotees who will throng Gandhari Maisamma adobe, which is located adjacent to Khila.

The religious routine was started with the tribal priest Sadar Bheemanna taking the deities for the holy dip. They were offered prasadams and then brought back by the priest in the evening and kept in the temple throughout the night.

On the second day, the deities will be taken to the main venue, where the Jatara is being organised. Cultural programmes will be organised throughout the night. The third day morning i.e. on Sunday, people of Kovamokasi offer their first prayers to Gandhari Maisamma.

Only after their puja, other devotees will be allowed to offer prayers. The original Jatara takes place only after this ceremony. The biennial tribal festival was suspended in 1996 due to an incident of murder that took place during the celebrations. Besides tribal leaders, various people’s organisations and public representatives appealed to the successive governments for renewal of the festival.

Thanks to the positive response from TRS government, the festival has returned in all its pomp. With the funds released by the government, a BT road was laid up to the adobe of the deity, drinking water points set up at several places, the ruins of ‘Jedikota’ were flattened and an approach road to the hill was also laid.

The tribal people from the Adilabad district including Gonds, Naikpod, Koyas, Mannes and devotees from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra flock the Jatara. Mandal Revenue Officer Kishan and local and tribal leaders made all the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Jatara.