All set for Edupayala jatara

All set for Edupayala jatara
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Highlights

Medak: Edupayala Durgamma Temple, where the second most famous jatara (festival) after Sammakka Sarakka jatara (the most famous in Telangana) is held every year, is gearing-up for week-long festivities starting on February 24

Medak: Edupayala Durgamma Temple, where the second most famous jatara (festival) after Sammakka Sarakka jatara (the most famous in Telangana) is held every year, is gearing-up for week-long festivities starting on February 24, on the eve of Sivarathri.

According to Hindu mythology, in Threthayuga, with Lord Rama’s blessings to a sage’s penance, Goddess Durga established herself in the dense forest area which is very close to Medak town of today.

Many sages in ancient times performed penance in this area which is known as Edupayalu today.

Since the beginning of 20th century, annual festival is held at this holy place every year. As Manjira became the lifeline of farmers in this area, every year farmers perform this jatara during Sivarathri festival.

Previously, during Magha Amavasya, Ugadi, Dasara, Karthika Pournami, Sankranthi and other festivals devotees used to take holy dip in these seven branches of Manjira and had been offering prayers to Goddess Durga.

But things changed for better in recent times, as the area got developed in tourism and spiritual fronts. Thousands of devotees started coming to this place throughout the year.

During Sivarathri alone, lakhs of devotees are expected to come from not only Telugu-speaking States, but also from neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra. As the temple and jatara became famous, Edupayala jatara has been recognized as a State festival in 2005.

Rental rooms, sheds, basic facilities and security for devotees are arranged by the district administration every year during the jatara.

According to one of the priests in Shiva temple, on Sivarathri, devotees in large numbers go on fasting here. Goddess Durga’s idol would be paraded and cattle would be made to run in circles near the temple.

Even when there is no jatara, every Sunday thousands throng the temple, offer animals as sacrifice to the goddess, cook there itself, eat, drink and have a gala time at Edupayala Durgamma temple, which has now become a major heritage tourist spot in Medak district.

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