Telangana Jatara

Edupayala Durga Bhavani Gudi – The Temple Of The Seven Streams Of Manjeera River

Edupayala Durga Bhavani Gudi is located at the confluence of seven streams. The shrine of Durga Bhavani which is the presiding deity of the temple is the most beautiful in the area. Located in Nagasanpalli in the Papannapet Mandal in the Medak District it is situated at a distance of 19 km from the Medak town. The temple is the meeting point of seven streams which makes a beautiful backdrop. As the waters flow in from seven directions they enter the temple from an opening and into the feet of Durga Bhavani who presides in the temple

There is a legend associated with the temple that can be traced back to the Mahabharata. It is said that Janamejeya, grandson of the third Pandava prince Arjun, in order to save his father Parikshit, from a curse, performed the “Sarpa yagam” a ritual which involved sacrificing snakes into the sacrificial fire to end their race. The snakes, in an attempt to save themselves, invoked Ganga, to flush out the sacrificial fire and end the ‘SarpaYagam’. Ganga arrived and divided the River Manjeera into seven little streams that flowed in to touch the feet of Goddess Bhavani or Vana Durga located in the sanctum of the temple built at the point where these 7 streams merge. Till today the river flows in seven little streams originating in Ghanapur and forming a confluence near the Edupayala Durga Bhavani Temple.

Edupayal Jathara (famous Jatharas of Telangana) that is held during Shivratri. It is a 3 day event

The water from the seven rivulets,  that are named after seven ancient sages, namely Vasishta, Jamadagni, Viswamitra, Goutami, Bharadwaja, Atreya and Kasyapasa is considered to hold purifying powers.

Special attractions:

– In addition to the Edupayala Jathara which is held during Shivrathri the Durga Bhavani temple is also famous for the other festivals that are held here namely, the Navarathri Uchavalu and the Magama Amvasya.

Location: At the confluence of seven streams of Manjeera River which 19 Kms from Medak Town.

Distance:

– Distance from MGBS Hyderabad is 112 Kms

– Distance from Medak Town is 19 Kms

How to reach:

– Located at a distance of 112km from Hyderabad, the Durga Bhavani Gudi is well connected by road. Buses and private taxis are easily available. The 2 hour journey from Hyderabad is through idyllic locales and creates a soothing effect on the mind.

– One can use public bus facility from Hyderabad to reach Edupayala Durga BHavani Temple.

– State run buses ply from Hyderabad MGBS bus stand to Medak every 40 min to 1 hour. From Medak, tourists can easily avail private transport or public.

Where to Stay:

– Basic accommodation is made available to pilgrims. It is advisable to carry your own water and food supplies. Pilgrims can also construct makeshift tents close to the temple premises for spending the nights.

Nearby Tourist Attractions:

– Pocharam Dam Reservoir

– Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary

– Medak Fort

– Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Rangampet village

– Narasimha Swamy Temple, Jakkannapet

– Sidha Rameshwara Temple, Medak

Nagoba Jatara Keslapur – Unique Telangana Tribal Culture

The Nagoba Jatara that occurs in the village of Keslapur in Adilabad district is one such unique event. Located at a distance of 32 km from Adilabad district center, Keslapur has been donned a special significance in tourism itineraries owing to the occurrence of this Jatara.

The Jatara which is an annual celebration by the Mesaram clan of the Gond tribes is a five day event. It is a huge event which receives participation from the Gond tribes of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

Members of the Mesaram clan revere the serpent God Nagoba which forms the main essence of this Jatara. The Nagoba, also known as Shesh Nag, is the divine serpent of Lord Shiva. They offer their respects and seek the blessings of the serpent God through rituals and ceremonies observed during the Jatara. Uttnooris, the place housing the temple of Nagoba where the Jatara is held is located at a distance of 25 km from Keslapur village. Pilgrims who visit this Nagoba Temple wear no footwear and walk barefoot to maintain the purity and holiness of the rituals. Also pilgrims travel using bullock carts only.

The women along with their mother-in-law touch the feet of the priests and carry a new earthenware pot to fetch water from Hastina madugu of river Godavari in Jannaram mandal near to Nagoba temple. The water is then used to make an anthill which is subsequently worshipped as a sacred object. The women then congregate at the ‘Govad’ an enclosure close to the temple and prepare Naivedyam or offering to the Lord on 22 makeshift ovens corresponding to the 22 of the Mesaram clan. The Naivedyam or the offering to the Lord comprises nine different types of food grains.

In the night, Gonds perform Mahapuja of Serpent God Nagoda (also called as Parsa Pen or Great God). The Mahapuja marks the start of the Nagoba Tribal Jatara.

The Nagoba Jatara is marked by the Gusadi dance performance which is perhaps the biggest attraction of the event. Dancers from the Gond tribe wear colorful traditional head gears which are decorated with peacock feathers. They tie a cotton band around their waists and smear ash on their body. The lilting music and the perfect synchronization of the Gond dancers as they tap their feet and sway their bodies rhythmically in tune with the music provides for a perfectly fascinating watch.

The festival occurs in the Pushya Masham corresponding to the English months December to January. This is considered to be an auspicious month and members of the Gond Tribe from different parts of the country congregate at Keslapur to offer their prayers and devotion to Nagoba.

The Nagobo Jatara is a unique event and should not be missed while on a trip to Adilabad.

Special Attractions:

– The Gusadi Dance performance by dancers from the Gond tribe is a major attraction of the event.

– View of hige number of Pilgrims using bullock carts gives a perfect feel of the Jatara

Specialty of the place:

– The Nagoba Temple which houses the serpent God Nagoba also known as Shesh Nag renders the place a unique perspective

Distance to Nagoba Jatara Keslapur:

– Distance from Hyderabad to Keslapur Nagoba Temple is 326 Kms

– Distance from Karimnagar is approx. 183 Kms

– Distance from Warangal is 235 Kms

– Distance from Adilabad is 32 Kms

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:

– Pochera Waterfalls

– Kuntala Waterfalls

– Jainath Temple

How to reach:

– Buses ply between Uttnoor and major cities and districts like Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad. Once in Uttnoor, tourists can avail local transport to reach Keslapur.

Nearest Railway Station: The Sirpur Kagaznagar Rail Way Station near to Kagaznagar located at a distance of 23 km from Keshlapur is easily reachable from near by towns. However, the Kazipet Railway Junction located at a distance of 174 KM from Keshlapur is a major railway junction.

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Medaram Sammakka Sarakka

There are many legends about the miraculous powers of sammakka .According to a tribal story, about 6-7 centuries ago,that is in the 13th century, some tribal leaders who went for a hunting found a new born girl (Sammakka) emitting enormous light playing amidst tigers. She was taken to their habitation . The head of the tribe adopted her and brought up as a chief tain (She later became the saviour of the tribals of the region) she was married to Pagididda Raju a feudatory tribal chief of Kakatiyas(who ruled the country of Andhra from Warangal City between 1000 AD and 1380 AD).She was blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna respectively.

After sometime, there was a severe drought that lasted for years and as a result the mighty Godavari River dried up.   pagedde Raju didn't pay tribute to King Pratapa Rudra. In turn king Pratapa rudra sent his army to subdue the tribals and collect the tribute. Then a War was fought between tribal chief pagidde Raju and Kakatiya army on the banks of "Sampenga Vagu" (Jampanna Vagu). The Koya army fought valiantly but could not with stand the well equipped Kakatiya army. Though fought valiantly Pagididda Raju, his daughters Sarakka, Nagulamma, son in law Govinda Raju lost (husband of Sarakka) lives in the battle. Later Jampanna also dies in Sampenga Vagu (after renamed as Jampanna Vagu in the memory of his heroic fight against well trained Kakatiya army). .

Upon hearing this news Sammakka also enters war and fights and causes lot of damage to kakatiya army. Surprised by her Bravery And Valour the Kakatiya Prime Minister visited war ravaged Koya kingdom with proposal of peace and offered Sammakka a place in the emperor’s harem as the chief queen.  Samakka turned down the offer and resolved to continue the fight to avenge the dead.   The battle continued and Sammakka was seriously wounded .  Samakka told her people that as long as they remembered her, she would protect them.  Then, she cursed the Kaktiya dynasty to perish  And with that wounded body proceeded towards Chilakala gutta and disappeared  in the forest.  The grieving Koyas searched for their queen all they found were a red ochre box(a container of vermilion), her  bangles … and the pug marks of a huge full grown tigress, exactly the same place where she was found as a infant by the koyas.  The Kakatiya dynasty came to an end very soon. Since then the Koyas, Waddaras and other Indian tribes and castes have been holding festivals in memory of Sammakka and Sarakka regularly .

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Bonalu Jathara – started in Telangana in the year 1813

 Bonalu is a unique Telangana Festival celebrated only in Telangana. The Bonalu Jathara festival traces its origins back to 1813, when the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad suffered from the epidemic of Plague. Thousands of lives were claimed, and the Plague was catching on dangerously with the masses. Then originated the belief that the Plague was a curse by the Mother Goddess- Mahankali and she was angered at the locals. People started offering their prayers and food (Bhojanalu- Bonalu) to please the goddess so she would rid them off the disease. To this date, Telangana People celebrate this festival expressing their gratitude for the well-being bestowed upon them, with much enthusiasm. Among the festivals of Telangana, Bonalu Jathara Festival is very important in Telangana which is celebrated for the whole month of Ashadam.

The Mother Goddess- Mahankali arrives at her maternal home, in the form of a copper pot-Ghatam, carried by a priest who is dressed in a traditional dhoti and coloured in turmeric. Devotees throng the streets, in wait of the goddess, to watch her arrive and welcome her. There are men, women, dancers, people dressed as mythological characters, drummers, all much enthusiastic to see the goddess arrive.

The women, coloured truly in the colours of the festival, are dressed in their best silks and gold jewellery. Joyous and fully festive-spirited, they dance on the way to the temple, with the Bonam on their heads, to the beats of the drummers. It is believed that these dancing women are under the trance of the goddess. It is also believed that while these women carry the food made for MahanKali, they possess the spirit of the goddess herself. Thus, there’s also a practice of washing the feet of the women in such a procession. They say Mahankali is an aggressive spirit, by nature. Hence, there is a need to pacify her; and washing their feet with water does the job. Groups of devotees also offer Thottela which is a small, colourful structure made out of paper and supported by sticks. This is considered to be a mark of respect to the goddess. Also an important part of these processions is the brother of Mahankali- Potharaju. Usually, a well built, bare chested man represents him. He’s covered with vermillion on his forehead and turmeric on his whole body and clothed in a Red dhoti and bells on the ankles. While on the way to the temple, the Thottela takes the lead and dances along, on the path with the tranced ladies following him. Trumpets and drums give the beats to the dance and add to the festive feel.

The festival is celebrated across Hyderabad in all of the 14 temples, part of the Old city.

Spread over a month, each of the Sundays, Bonalu has a special venue. On the first Sunday, the Sri Jagadamba Temple at Golconda Fort draws huge crowds, locally and from outside Hyderabad, who come to witness the opening of the festival. The Ujjain Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad is the home for the second Sunday. On the third Sunday, at Lal Darwaja, in the Matheswari Temple, Bonalu is celebrated with much pomp and show. All of the other temples also carry out the rituals associated with Bonalu. There are a number of rituals associated with Bonalu- Mahaabhishekham, Kalas Sthapana, Dwajarohanam, Mathaji Bhajan, Shakambari Alankara Puja, Laksha Kukumarchana, Laksha Pushparchana, Chandi homam, Thottela Uregimpu, Shanthi Kalyanam, Pothraju Swagatham, Rangam and Mahankali Jathara.

Bonalu is spread out on a number of days (usually a month), and its end symbolizes the goddess going back from her maternal home. It takes form by immersion of the Ghatam, the copper pot that symbolizes the goddess and is brought in, on the first day of the festival, into water. The immersion is also witnessed by large crowds who come to bid farewell to the mother goddess, who’d come in the form of a daughter, only to see her again, next year. Usually the goddess is carried on elephants, flanked by horses for immersion. It is followed by Rangam, which occurs on the second day of the festival. Women, who have been possessed by the mother goddess, get together and predict about the future.

The festival Bonalu Jathara is not just a festival for the religious that they simply observe in fear of the goddess and to keep on tradition. The people of Telangana have extreme faith in the goddess MahanKali and the spirit with which they celebrate this festival, depicts the faith.

The story of Mahankali coming to her parental home does not just seem a mythological one, meant for scriptures. Seeing people come alive on the streets, dancing with not a care in the world, preparing the most delicious of Bonams that they can, welcoming the goddess so warmly- It actually does seem like a daughter has come back to the home of her father. People dress up in their best; adorn the streets of cities with Neem leaves, preparations for the festival start much beforehand. In fact, the festival is not just limited to Hindu believers. Such was the impact of Bonalu, that the festival attained its pinnacle during the reign of the Nizams- Islamic rulers of Hyderabad, who themselves took part in it!

Bonalu Jathara Starts with Golconda Bonalu Jathara to Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Balkampet Yellamma Temple and ends with Akkanna Madanna Bonala Jathara.

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Iloni Mallanna Jatara 

Inavolu (Warangal): The famous Iloni Mallanna Jatara has begun on a grand note here on Saturday. The religious event of historic Inavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple begins on Bhogi, the preceding day of Sankranti festival, and continues till Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.

Lakhs of pilgrims from across the district and neighbouring districts take part in the event and fulfill their vows. Torana Bandhanam, Vigneshwara Pooja, Punyahavachanam, Prajarohana, Mahanyasapurvaka Rudrabhishekam and others will be held to mark the commencement of the jatara.

On Makara Sankranti Day on Sunday Mahanyasapurvaka Ekadasi Rudrabhishekam, Mahanivedana, Mantrapushpam and others will be held at the temple, informed the Temple Committee chairman S Kumaraswamy Goud and executive officer Sheshu Bharati.

Vardhannapet MLA Kondeti Sridhar has been monitoring the arrangements. The officials said that all arrangements for the convenience of the devotees have been made. Facilities like drinking water, 108 ambulances have been deployed to provide emergency medical services.

Special buses are being run by the APSRTC from locations like Kazipet, Hanamkonda and Warangal to the temple. Security arrangements with 200 police constables, 120 home guards, 60 women constables, and four circle inspectors under the supervision of Mamanur DSP Eshwara Rao have also been made.

The otherwise sleepy tiny village comes to life with scores of shops being set up on either side of the roads leading to the temple and thousands of people thronging this place. Devotees, men and women who came to fulfill their vows could be seen dancing in trance chanting invocations to God.

The `Pothurajus’ and women carrying `Bonams’ decorated mud pots with prasadam stand as an attraction at the temple. The special feature of the jatara is that people come and raise a temporary settlement in and around the temple.

Inavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple situated at Inavolu village of Vardhannapet mandal in the district is one of the ancient Lord Shiva temples in south India. The temple dates back to 11th century and was built by Kakatiya rulers. It was built with 108 pillars and has a giant magnificent Nruthaya Mandapam on eastern side.

The presiding deity Shivalingam of the temple referred to as ‘Ardhapranavattam’ (Shivalinga with half doom). The temple has four entrance gates with rich architectural carvings that epitomising the cultural sophistication of Kakatiya dynasty.

The temple was built by a minister Ayyanna Deva of Kakatiya Kingdom – hence the name Inavolu. The presiding deity Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy is considered as one of the incarnations of Lord Siva. Mostly the Yadavas patronise the temples built for the deity.