TIRUPATI: The temple town of Tirupati is all set to celebrate the annual mega folk festival of "Gangamma Jatara" on Tuesday. This Jatara is considered to be an important event after Lord Venkateswara's annual Brahmotsavams in Tirupati. Lakhs of devotees of all faith throng the temple every year and worship the goddess.
The eight-day folk event got off to a traditional start in Tirupati on May 5 with the priests performing the `abhishekam' to the `Viswaroopa Sthoopam' erected in front of the temple. Exactly a week after, the massive folk event of Goddess Gangamma would be celebrated which is considered to be equivalent to "Sammakka-Sarakka" Jatara in Telangana.
The folk goddess is considered to be the beloved sister of Lord Venkateswara and so the temple administration of TTD presents the "Pattu Sari" to the presiding deity on behalf of the lord every year. The temple administration of Tataiah Gunta Gangamma has prepared a diamond crown for the folk goddess last year at a cost of Rs 72 lakh which would be adorned on the goddess on Tuesday. The slaying of the clay idol of Gangamma in the early hours of Wednesday marks the culmination of the annual festival.
The uniqueness about this festival is that the devotees use foul language at passers-by in the course of their trek to the temple. According to chief priest GS Murali of the temple, as per folklore, it is only these abusive epithets that please goddess Gangamma the most and that is why people do not take objection to youngsters who hurl at them their choicest epithets.
The week-long festival will witness devotees, irrespective of sex and age, donning in various "Veshams" (disguise) everyday which includes, "Bairagi", "Banda", "Thota", "Dora" and "Matangi" veshams. Not only devotees from Andhra Pradesh, but those from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Orissa also make a beeline for this annual event of Gangamma Jatara.
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