Devotees throng Paderu as Modakondamma Jatara begins

Visakhapatnam: Thousands of devotees from various parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and a few parts of southern Odisha take part in the annual three-day Sri Modakondamma Festival (Jatara), which began on Sunday (May 17) in Paderu of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district.ASR district administration, political leaders of various parties were the first to have darshan of the main deity by offering special prayers on Sunday morning. Amidst tribal dances by the folk artistes from parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and chants praising the main deity, the three-day festival began on a grand note.A large procession with Utsava Murthi (processional deity) was taken up by the organisers of the Jatara. Devotees in large numbers from various parts reached the temple from the early hours and offered various delicacies to the deity and prayed for universal good.The magnificent illumination that lit Paderu for the Jatara was the most attractive during the festival. The cultural events and music programmed enthralled the devotees.Keeping in view of the tragic incidents in parts of the state during the festivals and Jataras, the ASR district police, revenue and a few other departments are taking additional measures to prevent any such eventualities during the festival. Hundreds of police personnel were deployed at strategic locations for traffic regulations and to prevent possible untoward incidents during the three-day festival.