The 78th martyrdom anniversary of legendary Adivasi leader Kumram Bheem was a solemn affair at Jodeghat on Wednesday.
Though there was no tribal darbar this year, the unprecedented number of aboriginal people who attended the programme came as a surprise.
The day began with the family of Kumram Bheem performing minor rituals as homage to departed souls. The district administration, represented by Collector Rajeegandhi Hanumanthu, Superintendent of Police M. Malla Reddy and Project Officer of ITDA , Utnoor, S. Krishna Aditya, paid homage alongside the family members of the martyrs.
They garlanded the statue of Bheem at his memorial and later offered floral tributes at his tomb. They also paid homage to Kumram Suru, a colleague of Bheem from the Kolam tribe.
Adivasi cultural troupes from across the erstwhile Adilabad district presented performances.
Among the visitors to the memorial were former Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi and Adilabad MP G. Nagesh, besides leaders of Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samiti, popularly known as Tudum Debba, former MLAs Athram Sakku and Soyam Bapu Rao.
The Tudum Debba leaders vowed to continue their movement for removal of Lambada tribe from the list of STs.