Warangal: Tribal devotees washed the road, which according to their belief, was the road Sammakka used to make her way towards Medaram from Chilakalagutta, about 2 km from Medaram. They put colourful rangoli on the roads and sacrificed chicken and goats to the ‘most ferocious and powerful’ tribal deity.
The roads turned red with blood from the sacrificed animals as the tribals invited the goddess to Medaram.
Lakhs awaited the moment of goddess Sammakka being brought down from the Chilakalagutta hillock where tribal priests performed prayers. District Collector R.V. Karnan, Superintendent of Police R. Bhaaskaran and other officials waited down the hillock. Lakhs of devotees stood outside the gates of the Chilakalagutta complex.
As the priests believed to be possessed by the goddess brought the deity down the hillock, Bhaaskaran fired 10 shots into the air from an AK-47 as an offering to the deity.
On hearing the shots, the waiting crowd burst into a sudden roar. The mood at Medaram and its surroundings reached its peak as devotees in the long queues chanted Sammakka’s name and moved forward with enthusiasm.
The jatara day was filled with energy as the most revered deity of the tribals took her place at the temple altar. The police personnel formed a channel around the priests and the officials as they moved towards Medaram.
Tribals danced to the drum beats and sought blessings of the goddess Sammakka.
