Latest news with #Chatimpu
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Ganga jatara in full swing: Tirupati immersed in folk devotion
Tirupati: All roads are leading to Tataiahgunta Gangamma Devasthanam in Tirupati as the city is immersed in the vibrant and deeply revered annual folk festival, Ganga Jatara. The celebrations began on May 6 with the traditional announcement known as Chatimpu, and have since drawn thousands of devotees each day. On Sunday, the temple premises were packed with worshippers, many of whom came dressed in Matangi Vesham, a symbolic attire that reflects their devotion. Despite the soaring temperatures, the number of visitors surged as people from across the region arrived to fulfil their vows and seek the blessings of Goddess Gangamma. Organised with extensive planning, the festival is being held on a grand scale with active participation from the local civic body and the festival committee. Tirupati Corporation Commissioner N Mourya has been overseeing the festival arrangements on the ground, while District Collector Dr S Venkateswar and Superintendent of Police V Harshavardhan Raju are monitoring safety and security to prevent any untoward incidents. Heavy traffic was witnessed in and around the temple area, with police making significant efforts to manage crowd control and ensure smooth movement. Devotees waited in long, continuous queues throughout the day. Many of them offered Pongallu, a traditional dish, to the goddess in fulfilment of their vows. The police have provided tight security while the Municipal Corporation has ensured sanitation, provision of drinking water, and other essential services. The distribution of ragi ambali, a traditional drink, was seen across various parts of the city, continuing a customary practice that supports devotees through the intense heat. As part of the ongoing traditions, devotees have also presented 'Sare' to the goddess, a ritual offering of clothes and other sacred material. Corporation Commissioner Mourya along with her family, offered sare to the goddess. Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh Chairman Animeni Ravi Naidu and Tirupati MP Dr Maddila Gurumoorthy also visited the temple along with their family members and offered sare to the goddess. MLA Arani Srinivasulu, Deputy Mayor RC Munikrishna, APFDC Chairman Vooka Vijay Kumar, and other public representatives also took part in the rituals and later helped distribute buttermilk to devotees along with temple committee members and local TDP leader Mahesh Yadav.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Tirupati's annual folk festival begins at Sri Tataiahgunta Gangamma temple
The much-awaited annual folk festival in Tirupati began at Sri Tataiahgunta Gangamma temple on Tuesday with the priests tying the 'Vadibalu', a sacred offering, to the stone pillar located in front of the temple. Several devotees thronged the temple to witness the offering. The practice of tying 'Vadibalu' follows the ancient tom-tom system (Chatimpu), where people carrying drums go around the town, to announce the beginning of the festival. It also sends a message to the native residents not to leave the temple town till the end of the festival, on May 13. Travel ban The announcement is taken as a dictate from Goddess Gangamma to 'avoid travelling' and stay within the periphery of the town. However, due to the seamless expansion of the temple town over the decades, locals who require travelling usually stay in the neighbouring villages during the 'Chatimpu' to avoid the 'travel ban'. According to a folklore, a local chieftain (Palegadu) misbehaved with Gangamma, who vowed to kill him. After the Palegadu went into hiding, Gangamma visited the town in different guises to lure him out. She succeeded on the final day and slayed him. Gangamma is idealised as an epitome of feminine power and is worshipped as a saviour. The devotees also don up in different attires to pay obeisance to the Goddess. On the first three days, they smear charcoal, limestone paste and vermilion (kumkum) respectively all over their body. Later, they turn up in guises, either representing demonic and mythological characters. Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu, accompanied by the public representatives and alliance leaders, presented an offering at the temple by carrying it on his head.
Hans India
06-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Week-long Ganga Jathara begins today
Tirupati: Stage is set for the colourful week-long Tatayyagunta Gangamma Jathara, which will take off on Tuesday. The Jathara will start with traditional 'Chatimpu', which will be held early in the morning on Tuesday, which will be followed by a series of religious events. Devotees wearing various attires will offer prayers to Gangamma during the seven days fete. The attires include Bairagi Vesham (May 7), Banda Vesham (May 8), Thoti Vesham (May 9), Dora Vesham (May 10), Mathangi Vesham (May 11), Sunnapu Kundalu (May 12), and Jathara (May 13). The festival will conclude with Viswaroopa darshanam on the early morning of Wednesday (May 14). Municipal Corporation Commissioner Narapureddy Mourya along with various departments officials on Monday visited, giving final touches to the preparations. She directed the officials of town planning department to ensure the shop keepersnot to encroach roads and see devotees proceed to the temples without any hindrance. In the vegetable market, which was earmarked for women devotees to prepare Pongallu to offer to the Goddess, the health department take all steps for round the clock sanitation and cleaning. The Commissioner said cultural programmes will also be held daily during the Jathara adding more to the spiritual tempo. Regarding parking, Mourya said TUDA office campus should be allotted for VIP parking and no vehicles should be allowed beyond YSR statue at TUDA junction. She also inspected the additional queue lines set up to cope with the heavy rush of devotees expected during the Jathara. She urged the officials to ensure no inconvenience to common devotees and all basic facilities including drinking water should be made available round the clock. Yadav Corporation Chairman Narasimha Yadav, Deputy Mayors Mudra Narayana, R C Munikrishna, RDO Rammohan, ASP Ravi Manoharachari, SEs Syam Sundar, Krishna Reddy, DSPs Ramakrishnamachari, Bhakthavatsalam, TUDA EE Raveendra were present.
Hans India
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Gangamma Jathara to be held from May 6 to 14
Tirupati: Tatayyagunta Gangamma temple management is gearing up for conducting the annual Jathara, which will be held from May 6 to 14. The Jathara will commence with 'Chatimpu' on May 6 and concludes with Ammavari Viswaroopa Darshan on May 14. As a prelude to Jathara , MLA launched the publicity campaign on Saturday with the release of the poster of the folk festival. Speaking on the occasion MLA Arani Srinivasulu said the Municipal Corporation along with police, revenue departments making elaborate arrangements to cope with the heavy rush of devotees expecting to participate in annual Jathara, one of the biggest Folk Goddesses festival in Rayalaseema region. Efforts are on to ensure a hassle-free darshan for the devotees and other facilities like drinking water, sanitation, parking and security arrangements were also underway and will be completed by the end of April. Yadav Corporation Chairman Narasimha Yadav, Nayi Brahmin Corporation Chairman Rudrakoti Sadasivam, temple EO Jaya Kumar, Deputy Mayor RC Munikrishna, former MLA M Sugunamma and others were present.
