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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.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu presents ‘Sare' at Gangamamba temple
Tirupati: Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu , accompanied by his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, presented the traditional 'Sare' (sacred gifts along with silk robes) to the presiding deity at Sri Prasanna Tirupati Gangamamba temple in Kuppam of Chittoor district on the sidelines of the Ganga Jatara festival on Wednesday. On the final day of the Jatara on Wednesday, the folk goddess blessed the devotees with her Viswaroopa Darshan. Temple authorities accorded the 'Poorna-Kumbhakarna' welcome along with traditional honours to chief minister and his wife upon their arrival at the entrance of the main temple on Wednesday. Naidu presented the 'Sare' as per the temple tradition to the priests inside the sanctum on behalf of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams . The CM said he prayed to Gangamma to bless the state with prosperity and abundance. "I also prayed to the goddess to ensure all the development works initiated by the state govt is completed on time so that the people of Kuppam constituency could reap the benefits of the development works," Naidu asserted. Every year, the Ganga Jatara folk festival is celebrated with utmost pomp in Kuppam, the constituency represented by the chief minister. TTD chairman BR Naidu, board members and others took part.
India Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Gangamma Jatara ends with grand Vishwaroopa Darshanam ceremony in Andhra Pradesh
The week-long Gangamma Jatara in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district concluded in grand fashion this morning, with the much-awaited Vishwaroopa Darshanam of the goddess Gangamma Thalli. The annual festival, which draws thousands of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states, is steeped in folklore and community Jatara, or procession, celebrates the goddess Gangamma Thalli and is considered one of the region's most significant cultural and spiritual events. A scene resembling this vibrant celebration was recently depicted in the movie 'Pushpa 2', giving audiences a glimpse into the grandeur of the tradition. advertisementAccording to local belief, it is deemed inauspicious to leave Tirupati while the Jatara is ongoing. Therefore, devotees, regardless of origin, remain in the town until the festivities come to a close. In the early hours of Sunday, the festival culminated with the goddess appearing in her divine Vishwaroopa form. The idol, made from clay, was presented to the crowds as Vedic scholars performed rituals, dispersing sacred sandalwood paste onto the waiting devotees. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual fervour as drums beat rhythmically and traditional chants echoed through the ensure smooth proceedings and safety for the visiting pilgrims, a heavy police bandobast was deployed. The celebration saw a large turnout of devotees who came to witness the goddess in her most glorious form, marking the end of yet another successful and spiritually enriching Gangamma IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
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
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Chittoor's Ganga Jatara to begin today
Chittoor gears up to hold the annual three-day Ganga Jatara in the honour of Goddess Gangamma scheduled from Monday. The mass festival, with deep roots in the region's cultural fabric, attracts devotees from across Rayalaseema districts, neighboring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka States. The Ganga Jatara dating back to more than three centuries is unlike most jataras centred around temples. The Jatara involves the installation of Goddess Gangamma idol made of clay and turmeric in the middle of the road at the busy Bazar Street, and on the concluding day, the idol is ceremoniously immersed in the Kattamanchi tank. For three days, devotees dressed up in different attires engage in a variety of rituals, including the offering of 'Ambali,' a Ragi-made porridge, to the Goddess. The entire Chittoor city and surrounding villages come alive with processions, music, and dance, creating a frenzied atmosphere. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police V.N. Manikantha Chandolu has ordered the deployment of about 800 police personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Jatara. Special teams will manage traffic and organisers were directed to exercise utmost caution, especially with electrical illumination works. The Ganga Jatara will simultaneous be celebrated in Obanapalle, Santhapeta, Doddipalle, Murakambattu, Greamspet, and Kongareddipalle.
