Over 200,000 devotees attended Punganur festival

Over 200,000 devotees attended the Suguturu Gangamma Jatara festival in Punganur, which ended on Wednesday. The two-day event saw participants from across South India, coming together to celebrate. The festival is supported by the descendants of the former Punganur Zamindars, who made generous donations to ensure its grand conduct. Many families with ties to the zamindari system traveled from states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The jatara takes place between the festivals of Holi and Ugadi and highlights the region's religious harmony, attracting people of various faiths. Local municipal and police officials, along with other departments, prepared extensively for the event. Families from the region provided food for the devotees at key junctions. The descendants of zamindar families, along with local leaders, performed special prayers at the Gangamma temple. The temple, located at the historic Zamindar Palace, was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Historically, the Punganur zamindars migrated from Suguturu in Karnataka in the 16th century. They consider Goddess Gangamma their family deity. A legend says the goddess's idol was consecrated in Punganur after a chariot carrying it broke down there. The idol remains in the palace year-round and is only taken out for the annual procession, which concluded with an immersion ceremony. Devotees participated in various rituals, including traditional offerings and animal sacrifices, to honor the goddess, known as the eight forms of ‘Ashta Gangammas’ in the region. There was a minor incident when a helicopter showering flower petals flew too low, causing a temporary collapse of a stall, but there were no injuries reported.