Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy participated in the Peddagattu Jatara at Durajpally in Suryapet district on Monday and offered prayers at the Lingamantula Swamy temple and took part in the religious rituals.
The Peddagattu Jatara, also known as Gollagattu Jatara, is Telangana’s second-largest religious congregation after the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara. Held once every two years, the five-day festival is of great spiritual significance, particularly for the Yadava community, which worships Lingamantula Swamy as their deity. This year, the Jatara began on February 16 and will conclude on February 20.
On the arrival, Uttam Kumar Reddy was given a grand welcome by the temple committee members, who honoured him with traditional offerings. As part of the rituals, the minister participated in the Bhairi (Bhery) drumming ceremony along with devotees in the temple premises.
He later performed special prayers. He thanked Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for sanctioning Rs 5 crore for the successful conduct of the Peddagattu Lingamantula Swamy Jatara. He instructed officials to take special measures to ensure devotees do not face any inconvenience.
Speaking to media persons, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the rich cultural and religious heritage of Telangana. “This Jatara, being celebrated since the 16th century, reflects our deep-rooted traditions and unites people in devotion. The Telangana government is ensuring that such grand religious festivals are celebrated with all facilities,” he stated.
After participating in the rituals, Uttam Kumar Reddy inspected facilities like drinking water supply, sanitation, power supply, medical assistance, and security arrangements. He directed officials to monitor the influx of devotees and ensure the smooth functioning of amenities such as temporary shelters, medical camps, and queue management systems.
Traffic management was a key focus during his review. With an estimated 20 lakh devotees expected, authorities have implemented traffic diversions on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway to prevent congestion. Additional police personnel and surveillance cameras have been deployed for crowd control.
The Peddagattu Jatara witnessed an overwhelming response from devotees, with thousands offering prayers at the temple. One of the key events, the arrival of the ‘Devara Petta’, took place amid religious fervour. The ‘Devara Petta’ procession, carrying the idols of Lingamantula Swamy, Choudamma, and other deities, was accompanied by chanting, drum beats, and traditional dances, adding to the festival’s spiritual grandeur.
Expressing his admiration for the turnout, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “This Jatara is not just a festival; it is an emotion for the people of Telangana. It is heartening to see lakhs of devotees, not just from our state but also from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, gathering to seek divine blessings.”
Given the heavy rush, strict traffic restrictions have been imposed. Vehicles heading towards Vijayawada from Hyderabad are being diverted through Narketpally, Miryalaguda, and Kodad, while Hyderabad-bound vehicles from Vijayawada are being rerouted via Kodad, Miryalaguda, and Nalgonda.
Heavy vehicles have been restricted around the Jatara venue to ensure smooth movement of devotees. To prevent health emergencies, multiple medical teams and emergency health camps have been set up. Special provisions have been made for drinking water, temporary toilets, and sanitation workers to maintain cleanliness at the site.
The event was attended by Congress leaders Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy, Venareddy, temple chairman Narasayya Yadav, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Patel Ramesh Reddy, Congress party members, temple committee members, and other officials.