The 50th year of the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatra at Veenavanka concluded peacefully with lakhs of devotees, even as a sensitive incident on the second day tested the resolve of organisers and officials to uphold court directions and sacred ritual protocol.
Conducted for nearly five decades by the founding family on private ancestral patta land, the Jatra—led this year by Udayanandan Reddy, founder of YuppTV and Turito—became a state-level talking point across Telangana for how lawful restraint and strict adherence to tradition prevented a potential disturbance.
Court directions issued ahead of the event were explicit: the family would conduct the rituals on the sacred Gaddelu through Koya priests, while the Endowments Department would only supervise for public order and not interfere. The premises were to be opened to the public only after the completion of rituals.
On the 28th, Saralamma Devata was ceremonially installed on the Gaddelu, and the day passed peacefully. On the 29th, Sammakka Devata was still in procession and had not yet reached the platform.
Officials on duty reportedly persuaded the local MLA multiple times, both before and during the Jatra, to attend in accordance with court orders and ritual protocol. On the 29th, police spent nearly three hours attempting to facilitate his visit respectfully. The procession was even halted for about 40 minutes near his residence to allow him to receive blessings.
However, the MLA entered the premises and stepped onto the Sammakka Gaddelu before the deity’s ceremonial installation. This was viewed as a violation of ritual sequence as well as court-mandated protocol. To prevent escalation, police intervened and escorted him out of the restricted area.
Subsequently, videos circulated widely across Telangana showing the MLA allegedly verbally abusing senior police officers, including an ACP, women officers, and the District Collector, for enforcing High Court directions and maintaining law and order despite political pressure.
After the situation was brought under control, Sammakka Devata was ceremonially installed, and the Jatra concluded peacefully, with lakhs of devotees completing darshan.
Udayanandan Reddy appreciated the professionalism of District Collector Pamela Satpathy, IAS; Commissioner of Police Ghaus Alam, IPS; and ACP Madhavi of Huzurabad for standing by court orders and safeguarding citizens’ rights.
“This Jatra demonstrated how sincere officers can protect tradition, law, and public order together. This is what the country needs,” he said.