Latest news with #Gangamma
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Naidu presents silk robes to Goddess Gangamma in Kuppam
kuppam (chittoor district): Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his wife N Bhuvaneshwari offered silk robes (pattu vastralu) to Goddess Sri Prasanna Tirupati Gangamamba at the temple in Kuppam on Wednesday, on behalf of the State government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The Chief Minister couple received the blessings of the deity during their visit, which underlined the cultural and spiritual importance of the annual Jatara, particularly in Kuppam—Naidu's home constituency. Upon their arrival at the temple, the Chief Minister and his wife were received by Government Whip and MLC K Srikanth, APSRTC Vice Chairman PS Muniratnam, Temple Chairman Ravichandra Babu, and others. In a brief programme, the CM left the town after completing the formalities at the temple. On this occasion, Naidu said that he had the opportunity of witnessing Vishwaroopa Darshanam which is available only once a year and expressed his wish for Goddess Gangamma to bless the state with peace and for all the people to live happily. Gangamma Jatara, known for its vibrant traditions and deep-rooted local beliefs, is one of the most significant religious festivals in the Chittoor district. Its history dates back to the early 18th century. According to local legend, Lord Venkateswara, angered by his sister Gangamma's habit of consuming corpses at burial grounds, severed her cheek to stop her. The severed piece is believed to have fallen across several places, including Tirupati and Kuppam. In remembrance of this event, the annual Jatara is held in Kuppam. A stone structure believed to represent the goddess was discovered years ago at a burial ground in Kuppam. It was later relocated to the town centre, where a temple was built and dedicated to her. The week-long festivities reached a high point with the procession of the deity's head, which began on Tuesday morning. The 24-hour-long procession culminated on Wednesday morning with the head being ceremonially fixed onto the trunk of the goddess inside the sanctum. The most sacred moment of the Jatara – Viswaroopa Darshanam – took place thereafter, where devotees witnessed the complete form of the goddess. The occasion was also attended by CM's Secretary PS Pradyumna, TTD Chairman BR Naidu, District Collector Sumit Kumar, SP Manikanta Chandolu, KADA Project Director Vikas Marmat, TTD trust board member V Santharam, Kuppam Municipal Chairman Selvam, along with local leaders and officials.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Should India ignore Donald Trump's remarks? Experts debate on News Today
2:03 Gangamma Jatra is marked by vibrant festivities, with devotees dressing in diverse attire to honor the fierce act of Goddess Gangamma.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Viswaroopa Darshan' brings curtains on Tirupati Gangamma Jatara
Tirupati's annual folk festival, the Thathayagunta Gangamma Jatara, came to a grand conclusion in the early hours of Wednesday with the traditional smashing of the clay idol of Goddess Gangamma, marking the end of the nine-day celebrations. As per custom, temple authorities installed a huge clay idol at the entrance of the shrine, which is worshipped throughout the festival. On the final day, during the pre-dawn ritual, priests performed harathi—'Viswaroopa Darshan'—to' the idol and then ceremonially destroyed it. Thousands of devotees gathered in front of the shrine to witness the moment. The idol's eyes, which are deliberately carved in a squinted position, were momentarily adjusted to look straight— a symbolic act after which the priests immediately destroyed the idol to prevent any casualties. According to tradition, it is believed that the eyes of the goddess are so powerful that her focused gaze could burn down an entire area. Elders recall instances of a fire mishap that occurred during this phase of the ritual, reinforcing the belief. When the priest destroyed the idol, the clay pieces scattered in all directions. Devotees eagerly collected the broken pieces as sacred keepsakes.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Hans India
Faith, folklore converge as Gangamma Jatara to achieve grand climax
Tirupati: The pilgrim city of Tirupati was immersed in divine fervour as the iconic folk festival, Thataiahgunta Gangamma Jatara, drew to a grand conclusion on Tuesday with stage set of Gangamma Viswaroopa Darshan scheduled after midnight. The nine-day spiritual spectacle, marked by vibrant rituals and deep-rooted traditions, will be formally culminated with the revered 'ChempaTolagimpu' ceremony – a symbolic event where the clay idol of Goddess Gangamma in Viswaroopa is ceremoniously removed from the temple premises, marking the end of the Jatara. The temple witnessed overwhelming footfall throughout the nine days, with Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays drawing particularly massive crowds. The festive atmosphere reached a crescendo as devotees of all ages and backgrounds, dressed in unique attires each day, participated in the rituals with unflinching devotion. A significant ritual included the mass preparation of Pongallu by women, who offered it to the presiding deity with heartfelt prayers. On the penultimate day, the fervour intensified as a spiritual wave swept across the city. According to folklore, Goddess Gangamma assumes various disguises to track and eliminate the villainous local chieftain (palegadu), who once attempted to outrage her modesty and went into hiding. The climax of this narrative plays out on the final day, symbolising the triumph of divine justice. Security arrangements were robust, ensuring a safe environment for the lakhs of visitors. Under the vigilant eye of SP V Harshavardhan Raju, the police department deployed an extensive force, including bomb squads and dog squads. Frisking through metal detectors was strictly enforced at all entry points, with over 300 personnel including three Additional SPs, eight DSPs, and dozens of CIs, SIs, and constables working round the clock. Equally commendable were the efforts of the Municipal Corporation, led by Commissioner N Mourya. Sanitation, crowd management, and logistical arrangements were executed flawlessly, contributing to a smooth, incident-free experience for devotees seeking darshan of the Goddess.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Chapparam' marks final day of Gangamma Jatara
For the last nine days, Tirupati has been reverberating with the devotional fervour of the 'Gangamma Jatara'. While the religious fervour in TTD-run temples is marked by the chanting of hymns from Vedic scriptures and Tamil chants from 'Nalayira Divyaprabandham', the fervour in this folk festival is a visual feast in nature, where the religious practices are based on folklore passed on from generations. Gangamma is revered locally as the younger sister of Lord Venkateswara, and the practices during the nine days are religiously followed by the natives of Tirupati. From wearing different costumes to smearing colours all over the body, the practices are followed with great zeal. Women follow the main ritual of carrying fire in a pot with thousand holes, which is carefully carried on the head and taken to the temple. After offering prayers at the shrine, the pot is smashed to the ground and broken into pieces. The last day of the festival, on Tuesday, the devout carried the 'Chapparam', a piece of art work resembling a 'Gopuram'. The Chapparam is carried by devotees all the way from their home to the temple. With shoulder as a support, the tower-like structure is tied tightly from the waist and carried. The practice marks the end of the period of abstinence observed by the devout. Devotees also arrived at the temple by donning the guise of mythological characters like Venkateswara, Rama, Krishna, Kali, Arusa and others. Of late, several youth donned saris and came to the temple in typical Pushpa style.
