Mon Mar 24 13:03:15 UTC 2025: ## Punganur Gears Up for Historic Suguturu Ganga Jatara
**CHITTOOR, March 24, 2025** – The town of Punganur in Chittoor district is preparing for the annual Suguturu Ganga Jatara, a two-day festival dedicated to Goddess Gangamma that begins Tuesday. Dating back to the 16th century and historically patronized by the Vijayanagara Dynasty and the British Raj, the Jatara draws over 300,000 devotees annually from Rayalaseema and neighboring Karnataka.
Authorities are implementing comprehensive security measures. Police and revenue officials conducted an inspection on Monday, reviewing arrangements with local officials and descendants of the erstwhile Zamindar families. Superintendent of Police Manikanta Chandolu announced a new “parent tag system” to prevent children from going missing, along with increased plainclothes officers to deter theft and maintain order. The action plan includes managing procession routes, ensuring power supply, sanitation, fire safety, and adequate barricading.
The Jatara attracts devotees from approximately 200 villages across Chittoor and Annamayya districts, as well as numerous families with historical ties to the zamindari system now residing in Bengaluru and Chennai. The festival is expected to be a significant event, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
First Piper 