Emotional Send-off at Medaram as Sammakka Enters the Forest

The Medaram tribal fair concluded with an emotional ceremony as Sammakka was formally sent back into the forest on Saturday night. After receiving prayers for three days on the gaddelu, the goddess was taken in a traditional procession amid chants and celebrations by devotees.

Tribal musical instruments, drum beats, and horn sounds filled the atmosphere, while devotees danced in devotion. Shiva Sattulu performed rituals in a trance-like state. Along with Sammakka, other deities Saralamma, Pagididda Raju, and Govinda Raju were taken by their respective priests to temples in their native regions.

Devotees walked alongside the priests until Sammakka reached Chilakalagutta. Ministers and senior district officials were present during the forest-entry ritual. Saralamma was shifted to Kannepalli, Govinda Raju to Kondayi village, and Pagididda Raju is scheduled to enter the temple at Poonugondla on Sunday morning.

Although crowd density reduced slightly by Saturday morning, massive traffic congestion affected devotees returning home. Several routes witnessed long traffic jams, with buses and private vehicles stranded for hours. Despite assurances of improved infrastructure and traffic management, the situation remained difficult for most of the day.