The entire Chittoor town and surrounding villages are gearing up for the famous Ganga Jatara, scheduled for May 17 and 18. The "chatimpu" (traditional announcement) will be made on May 10. In 2020 and 2021, the denizens missed the grand gala due to the COVID pandemic, while the rituals were performed with a limited presence of the hereditary elders and priests.
This mass festival has a history of over 150 years. Unlike regular jataras elsewhere in the district, Chittoor Jatara has a unique feature. There is no temple to the Goddess Gangamma, but her idol made of clay and turmeric would be installed on the busy Bazar Street every year. After Jatara, the idol would be immersed in the nearby Kattamanchi Tank.
The highlight is that close to two lakh people from all over Chittoor district and neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reach Chittoor to take part in the jatara at the invitation of their relatives here. The tradition continues to be in the vogue since the British Raj.
