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Andhra Pradesh
Edupayala Jatara goes liquor-free
Rustic fest: Devotees entering Edupayala via Ghanpur anicut in Medak district on Friday.
Nagsanpalli (Medak): Even though the turnout of devotees was rather low compared to last year, the Edupayala Jatara has so far remained liquor-free except for a few litres of toddy confiscated from a handful of revellers on Friday. Endowment officials pointed out that the jatara failed to attract anticipated crowd this year because of the recently concluded bi-annual Medaram jatara in Warangal district. Even as the inward-moving traffic picked up momentum by Friday afternoon, the mood of the devotees who were camping here was upbeat. They were seen feasting on spicy meat available in plenty from those who offered the sacrifice. But the other essential ingredient, liquor was absent this year with strict vigil by the Medak Excise Department.
Speaking to The Hindu, the Medak Excise Superintendent D.Venkataratnam who is camping here said that ten checking points, one each at the entrance, camp office, temple, Ghanpur anicut and the bus bays were set up to check the incoming traffic. He pointed out that the fear of confiscation also helped the department to curtail trafficking of alcohol into the temple premises. A large number of decorated bullock carts participated in the ‘Bandla Panduga’ on Friday afternoon. Cart decked with sugarcane and wild flowers were paraded by farmers on the temple premises.
Traditional offer of sugarcane juiced to the presiding deity goddess Bhavani marked the occasion. The jatara, a sort of thanksgiving festival, concludes on Saturday, but sometimes gets spilled over to Sunday as the temple management expected more crowds to arrive by Saturday night.
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