Devotees line up at the newly established Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma shrine in Mulugu district. | Photo credit: By arrangement
Devotees who attended the four-day Sammakka–Saralamma Maha Jatara particularly praised the queue management system put in place by the state government and the district administration, saying it ensured a smooth and speedy darshan despite the high turnout.
Pilgrims said systematically arranged queues supported by clear barricades and regulated entry points helped maintain an orderly flow of devotees towards the shrine. Continuous monitoring and guidance by police personnel and Adivasi volunteers ensured that the queues moved smoothly, significantly reducing the waiting time and eliminating the need for long standing.
Several devotees noted that unlike the previous editions of the biennial fair, this time the darshan was completed in less time, without much traffic or confusion along the queue routes. The absence of stampede-like situations was also attributed to effective crowd segregation and disciplined movement in the queue.
“Unlike previous years, we didn’t have to stand for hours. The queues kept moving and we could have darshan in half an hour,” said one Kumara Swamy, a devotee from Warangal. Several other devotees also said that the improved queuing arrangement played a key role in facilitating a peaceful and hassle-free pilgrimage at the tribal shrine in Medaram. “There was no push or panic anywhere. This time the arrangements are much better,” said Vasanthi, a young girl from Palakurthy town in Jangaon district. The renovation of the shrine area with stone buildings also earned the praise of the pilgrims.
Wow
As part of the traditional rituals associated with the Maha Jatara, devotees from various parts of the state and neighboring regions took a holy dip in the Jampanna river, located about 1.5 km from the sacred platforms. The ritual is considered an integral part of the pilgrimage.
Devotees were seen building sand idols of tribal deities along the creek and performing special pujas using coconuts, turmeric and saffron. They chanted traditional invocations, offered rice, gold and symbolic objects brought from their homes and prayed for the fulfillment of vows and blessings from the tribal goddesses.
Several devotees also pointed out that effective crowd management through separate front lines prevented congestion.
Published – 28 Jan 2026 19:45 IST
