Christians' Annual Dharur Jathara Postponed to December Due to Polls

Hyderabad: The 101st edition of the Christian jatara in Dharur in Vikarabad district, considered the biggest gathering of the community in Asia, will be held from December 5 to 10 instead of the second week of November, on the orders of the district collector as the model code of conduct is in place.

The six-day event draws more than 25 lakh people to the thick forest, a few kilometres off the Anantagiri Hills of Vikarabad. Participants erect tents and cook on bonfires during their stay in nature. Visitors from Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra take part in the jatara.

Rev. C.G. Dayanand, secretary of the Dharur jatara committee and the executive secretary of Methodist Hyderabad Regional Conference, said, “All the arrangement are done and invitations had also been sent, but the government instructed us to postpone it because the election code is enforced.”

He said, “The district collector of Vikarabad gave us the permission to hold it from December 5 to 10. The same number of faithful are expected on these dates. This is the first time that the jatara is being postponed.”

“As this jatara is one of the biggest events for the Christian community, the government, whichever comes to power, should extend help with the arrangements. The committee is planning to approach the postal department to release a stamp to commemorate 100 years of the Dharur jatara.”