Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Venkatagiri Poleramma Jatara Preserves Centuries-Old Royal Traditions and Faith
The Poleramma Jatara is a large traditional festival held every year in Venkatagiri.
It lasts for two days and brings together more than five lakh people.
The festival is held in the third week after Vinayaka Chavithi.
People believe Poleramma helped protect the town during a cholera outbreak in 1900.
The Venkatagiri royal family began important traditions connected with the festival.
Kummari community artisans make a clay idol without decorating it at first.
They later fix its eyes during a special ceremony.
The idol is carried through the town and finally immersed in the Kaivalya River.
These customs help preserve the town’s history and faith.
The two-day Venkatagiri Poleramma Jatara concluded Thursday evening with immersion of the clay idol in the Kaivalya River.
The annual festival attracts more than five lakh devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Historical evidence indicates the Jatara was celebrated in 1714 under the patronage of the Venkatagiri Rajas.
Royal customs, including Chatimpu and Ghatotsavam, continue to begin at the Venkatagiri palace.
Kummari Street artisans prepare the undecorated idol, whose eyes are fixed ceremonially before its procession and immersion.
- Who
- More than five lakh devotees, Kummari community artisans, the Venkatagiri royal family, and local residents are associated with the festival.
- What
- The Venkatagiri Poleramma Jatara, a two-day annual festival, concluded with the immersion of Poleramma’s clay idol.
- When
- The festival is held in the third week after Vinayaka Chavithi and concluded on Thursday evening.
- Where
- The festival takes place in Venkatagiri, with the idol immersed in the Kaivalya River.
- Why
- The Jatara developed as a thanksgiving tradition after Poleramma was believed to have protected the town during the 1900 cholera outbreak.
- Festival duration
- Two days
- Annual timing
- Third week after Vinayaka Chavithi
- Attendance
- More than five lakh devotees
- Historical record
- The Jatara was celebrated in 1714 under the Venkatagiri Rajas
- Earlier town name
- Kalimili
- Key ritual site
- Venkatagiri palace
- Final ritual
- Immersion of the clay idol in the Kaivalya River
- Temple administration
- The temple and its jewellery were handed to the Endowments department in 1991