State govt set to promote
tribal festival across the country to attract larger crowds.
Hyderabad: The State
government is all set to launch a brand campaign and promote the tribal
festival of Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara across the country to attract larger
crowds. Besides making another attempt at requesting the Centre to recognise it
as a national tribal festival, the State government decided to invite prominent
persons and leaders from tribal communities in the country to witness the
festivities.
Reviewing the arrangements
at Sakshema Bhavan on Monday, Tribal Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod said
the State government was trying to create a brand image for Sammakka-Sarakka
Jatara festivities which had already earned the reputation of being the largest
congregation of tribals in Asia. The three-day celebrations will be conducted
from February 5 to 7 next year at Medaram on a grand scale.
“We are anticipating a crowd
of at least 1.5 crore devotees to attend the festival within three days in
February. Many devotees will commence visiting the sacred venue at least a
month before the celebrations begin. Hence, all arrangements must be completed
before December end under any circumstance,” the Minister said.
Besides making necessary
arrangements for transport, the officials were directed to complete road laying
and repair works, arrange for adequate parking, and also basic amenities
including drinking water and toilets at the venue.
The forest department
officials were asked to coordinate with various departments and ensure that
tribal devotees do not face any difficulty during their pilgrimage to Medaram.
While the officials were asked to take stringent measures including conducting
awareness programmes to prevent plastic usage at the venue, the Tourism
department authorities will publicise the tourism spots in erstwhile Warangal
district.
Satyavathi Rathod stated
that despite budgetory constraints, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao
sanctioned Rs 75 crore for the Jatara arrangements keeping in view the
sentiments of tribals with regard to Goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka. However,
no permanent structures will be constructed during the current budget year due
to shortage of funds, she said.
Principal Secretary for
Tribal Welfare Benhur Mahesh Dutt Ekka, commissioner Christina Z Chongthu,
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R Sobha, Mulugu district collector
Narayana Reddy and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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