more-inSpiritual ecstasy set the mood for the ‘Ganga Jatara’, even as the temple staff roamed through the narrow thoroughfares of the old town beating the traditional drums to announce the onset of the annual folk festival. The fair at the Gangamma temple located at Thathayagunta in the heart of the city is comparable to the ‘Sammakka Sarakka Jatara’ of Telangana, which is visited by thousands of devotees. Native residents of Tirupati religiously follow the age-old practice of smearing colours all over their body, adorn exuberant jewels and go around the town in the guise of women on select days of the nine-day festival.

Source: The Hindu May 08, 2018 19:34 UTC