Tribal deities Pagididda Raju, Govinda Raju installed on new platforms at Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka shrine

MULUGU

In accordance with tribal traditions, the deities Pagididda Raju and Govinda Raju have been installed on newly constructed Gadde (sacred platforms) at the Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka shrine on Wednesday. Koya priests (known as Vaddes) reinstalled Govinda Raju first, followed by Pagididda Raju, at a ceremony in the morning in the presence of tribals mainly from the clans of Govinda Raju and Pagididda Raju, accompanied by drumbeats and traditional dances.

The ceremony was attended by local MLA and Panchayat Ran and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), District Collector TS Divakara, SP Sudhir R Kekan, and other officials. Tight security arrangements were made to prevent devotees from entering the gadde premises during the installation. Priests of Sammakka-Sarakka (Saralamma), Pagiddidda Raju, and Govinda Raju, along with their families, performed traditional pujas.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Seethakka said, “The tribal way of life and the history of Sammakka-Saralamma are etched in stones used to construct the platforms and the compound of the shrine. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is undertaking these development works like a sacred yagna. Some people are criticising and insulting our traditions, which is wrong.”

Minister Seethakka said that during the renovation work, several meetings were held with the tribal priests and the opinions of the elders were taken and the priests were convinced.

She expressed the opinion that since the forest deities are in the same line, it will be easy for the devotees to have darshan. She said that the tribals had a great bond with Bandaru (turmeric powder), adding that the presiding deity Sammakka belonged to Bandari clan.