Venkaiah Naidu Prays At Medaram Jathara, Wants National Reco

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today stressed the need for popularizing the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma tribal festival of Telangana at the national level.

"It needs national recognition as a large number of devotees from other states also throng the biennial festival," he said.

Naidu, who came in a special helicopter from the Begumpet airport to the Medaram Jathara site at 11:05 am amid tight security, was welcomed by Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy, Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary and officials.

He offered special prayers, "bangaram" (jaggery) and traditional clothes to the deities at the temple in the Jayashankar-Bhupalapally district near Warangal.

Talking to mediapersons later, Naidu said that it was his responsibility to visit Medaram. The age-old tribal festival reflected the traditions and culture of the Telangana people, who believed that the tribal deities ensured their well-being, he said. "We are supposed to protect the old traditions and transfer them to the future generations," he added.

He said that the festival would be given national recognition soon. His remarks assume significance as the state government has already appealed for national status to the Jathara.

The Vice-President appreciated the Telangana government and its officials for making good arrangements for the festival.