English edition of ‘Gangamma Jatara’ book released in Tirupati

The English version of the book ‘The folk festival of Ganga Jatara in Tirupati’ was released here on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), the final day of the nine-day annual “Gangamma Jatara”.

The book is authored by Peta Srinivasulu Reddy, a retired professor of Telugu at Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), which is considered an authority on Telugu folklore, especially the folk festivals of Tirupati.

The book was formally released by members of Kaikala clan, who traditionally don the “Sunnapu Kundalu” guise of the revered sisters Pedda Gangamma and Chinna Gangamma during the festival.

“This community members are believed to be the representatives of the deity during the festival and hence they play a significant role in perpetuating the centuries old tradition,“ Prof. Reddy said.

Interestingly, it was 31 years ago that the Telugu version, also by the same author, was first unveiled in the form of two editions. This version became the first source of information on the festival, which had not been publicised to the world until then. A 120-page English account of the same was later published by Dravidian University in Kuppam.