Rs 75cr for facilities at Medaram Jatara

Medaram: With just a day to go for Sammakka Saralamma Jatara in Medaram, the state government has released Rs 75 crore to create permanent and temporary amenities in the village. About 20 lakh pilgrims have been already been offering prayers since the past month.
The Jatara will begin on February 5 and end on February 8. On the first day of the festival, the idol of goddess Saralamma, daughter of Sammakka, is taken to the ‘Medaram Gaddhe’ or platform from Kannepalli.Day 2 of the festival sees the arrival of Sammakka on to the ‘Medaram Gaddhe’. Police and district collector honour Sammakka by opening a few rounds of fire in the air. On February 7 and 8, mother and daughter are available for darshan to devotees. Lakhs of pilgrims offer jaggery to the deities.
In the evening on February 8, priests take back the goddesses to the forest (known as vana pravesham), which signals the end of the Jatara.
State government is expecting around 1.5 crore pilgrims this time. A 100-bed temporary hospital has been set up at the venue.