PRG. 179.20 (N) 750
NIZAMABAO
CENSUS OF INDIA 1961
VOLUME II
ANDHRA PRADESH
PART VII-B (15) FAIRS AND FESTIV_-"""",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
(15. Nizamabad District)
,'; : .',,' .'.. ~~ .t·'/" 'rl·: ~ '. '\,., :: :~' ~i A. CHANDRA SEKHAR \ ,;) . • ~_ ._...._ .!._ "~ ---' ...... ~• • • " J OF THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVIcE;- ~ ,~~ "[·f:\.·.· .. --;-_:/ -... -"" ...... ~~ - Superintendent of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh
Price: Rs. 4.85 p , or 11 Sh. 4d, or S 1.75 c. 1961 CENSUS PUBLICATIONS, ANDHRA PRADESH
(All the Census Publications of this State bear Vol No. II)
PART I-A (i) General Report (Chapters I to V)
PART I-A (ii) General Report (Chapters VI to IX)
PART I-A (ii;) General Report (Chapters X to XII)
PART I-B Report on Vital Statistics
P.\RT I-C Subsidiary Tables
PART II-A General Population Tables
PART II-B (i) Economic Tables [B-1 to B-IV]
PART II-B (ii) Economic Tables [B-V to B-IX]
PART II-C Cultural and Migration Tables
PART III Household Economic Tables
PART IV~A Report on Housing and Establishments (with Subsidiary Tables)
PART IV-B Housing and Establishment Tables
PART V-A Special Tables for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
PART V-B Ethnographic Notes on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
PART VI Village Survey Monographs (46)
PART VII-A (1) 1 I 1 PART VII-A (2) ~ Handicrafts Survey Reports (Selected Crafts)
P,\RT VII-A (3) JI
PART VII--B (1 to 20) ... Fairs and Festivals (Seperate Bookforeach District) PART VIII-A Administration Report-Enumeration 1 :- (Not for sale) PART VIII-B Administration Report-Tabulation J PART IX State Atlas
PART X Special Report on Hyderabad City
District Cen sus Handbooks (Seperate Volume for each D islrict) FOREWORD
Although since the beginning of history, foreign travellers and historians have recorded the principal marts and entrepots of commerce in India and have even mentioned important festivals and fairs and articles of special excellenc~ available in them, no systematic regional inventory was attempted until the time of Dr. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in the beginning of the nineteenth century. One of the ta~ks set before him by a resolution of the Governor· General-in-Council in 1807 was "to· examine with as much accuracy as local circumstances will admit": "an account of the various kinds and amount of goods manu factured in each district ... the ability of the country to produce the raw materials used in them ... how the necessary capital is produced, the situation of the artists and manufacturers, the mode of providing their goods ... commerce : the quantity of goods exported and imported in each district; the manner of conducting sales, especially at fairs and markets."
That he dischargc-d hiq duty very thoroughly will appear from his statistical accounts of Mysore and the northern districts of Bengal and Bihar.
The great Revenue Surveys of the middle of the nineteenth century made no attempt in this direction, and accounts of fairs and festivals in districts were neglected until W. W. Hunter took up the compilation of statistical accounts again the last quarter of last century. For the purpose of notifying holidays in the East India Company's offices the Board in Calcutta had since 1799 been in the habit of "procuring an accurate Bengalee almanac properly authenticated by brahmanical astronomy" from the Nabadwip Court (letter from Secretary to Board of Collector of Nadi) a, 5 July, 1799, No. 8217, W. W. Hunter's Unpublished Bengalte MSS Records). Satis Chandra Vidyabhusan in his History of Indian Logic wrote that "almanacs were prepared by the Pundit Samaj of Nabadwip which were supplied to the Nawab's Court of Murshidabad as well as to the East India Company, the Supreme Court, etc ... the Nabadwip Panjika under the imprimatur of Nabadwipadhipater anugya was accepted by all the landlords of Bengal". This Nabadwip Panjika which remained the standard almanac for Bengal continued in use throughout the first half of the nineteenth century and each issue contained a list of important fairs and festivals in every district. A valuable almanac was th,!t published by the Vernacular Literature Committee's Almanac published in 1855-6 (1262 B.S.). It gave an account of 309 famous fairs of Bengal in its second part. The Gupta Press Panjika or almanac which virtually replaced Nabadwip Panjika made its first appearance in 1869 and continued to publish a useful list·of important fairs and festivals in the country. But this list was by no means exhaustive nor were W. W. Hunter's which he published with each Statistical Account.
Meanwhile native crafts, industries and objects of artistry decayed rapidly and tho roughly as a result of the East India Company's policy of extinguishing them, and official interest in fairs and festivals declined, although these occasions, divested of much of their glory; still continued to attract livestock, grain, merchandise and handicrafts from far and near. The Imperial Gazetteers published between 1880 and 1910 gave a minor place to these important seasonal markets or temporary inland ports. Even the District Gazetteers, which still are the fullest and most compact accounts of districts, make but casual mention of fairs and festivals in the country and attach little economic importance to them. ii
~or, indeed, the in;t~ortance of fair~ ~nd festivals-as the meeting ground of livestock and agncultural coml!J.OdltlfS of many relIgIons and many cultures, crafts and motifs from far and near, of ideas and desi~n,. workma~ship, excellence and finish, of tools and appliances of trends of the future and vamshmg practIces of the past, of adapatability and local variation of skill and imagination-declined with the punitive export policy of the East India Company and the unrestricted import of machine-made goods, so much so that at the close of the last century fdirs and festivals were reduced to a matter of concern only for the Public Health Department. They were no longe r regarded as important centres of trade and commerce, but were now from the Government point of view mearly a collection of human beings among whom epidemics were to be prevented from breaking out. Fairs and festivals continued to be a matter of law and order and the Police Department and the District Board continued to maintain full lists of them in tntir local offices, a source which has so far remained unquarried.
Following the census operations of West Bengal in 1951, a slim volume, containing a list of fairs and festivals arranged according to districts and their Police Stations, was brought out as a part of the West Bengal seheme of Census Publications. This list was mainly made up of information supplied by District Board and Superintendents of Police of districts. The two lists were collated to make up a comprehensive list containing several columns: the name of the village arranged under its district and Police Station, with its Jurisdiction List number, the name of the festival or fair by which it is commonly known in the locality, the English month of the year in which it is held,. the duration of the festival or fair, and finally the number of persons attending it. Although mearly a list, and not quite complete at that,. this volume attracted attention and received the appreciation both of scholars and the general public. Its general value lay in its being a compendium and its particular value lay in presenting a distribution throughout the country of particular festive: occasions. The 'Superintendent of Census Operations for West Bengal, who continued in an honorary capacity, was plied from time to time with requests to undertake an extensive survey of the subject which seemed to accord well with the Superintendent's own personal desire. For one thing, quite a few of the old and traditional fairs and festivals of West Bengal are on their way to extinction on account of various forces working against them and a record of these rapidly vanishing fairs and festivals could be made only now as never again in the future. In the next place, the Census Office considered it its duty to sustain by a more searching survey the interest that the publication had aroused. *' A different approach suggested itself as the new task was viewed in terms of collection of extensive first-hand material on each fair and festival. I t was necessary therefore, in the first place, to approach as many individuals as possible in each locality, and not restrict the enquiry only to Government or semi-Government sources, Departments or organisations. In the second place, a satisfactory questionnaire was considered most essential. A number of aims were kept in view in framing the questionnaire. These were:
(a) The questionnaire should be very simple and precise in language, designed pri marily for the understanding of a person of primary education standard At the same time, the question should be suggestive enough to invite ancillary information. Were this objective achieved, it should be possible to obtain exhaustive information without irrelevant detail. iii
(b) It should succeed in obtaining a clear environmental, social and economic back ground of the village or place in which a particular fair is held or a festival is observed.
(c) It should emphasise those aspects' of a festival or worship which would bring out the details of rituals and religious practices peculiar to the locality.
Cd} It should obtain information not only on the more important a.nd better-known festivals or fairs, but also on the less known but otherwise significant fairs and festivals. It was decided to extend the scope of enquiry beyond those fairs and festivals that are approved and licensed by the District authorities, for the latter would be a small number compared to the total.
(e) It should attempt sufficient information on economic activities and patterns in respect of each fair, however big or small. The information so obtained should suggest the scope for studying the movement of local handiwork and local forms and raw materials. The questionnaire should also give a list of local amusements favoured by the public.
The questionnaire which was several times pre-tested was finally mailed lD 1957 to about 10,000 addresses in West Bengal on the Business Reply scheme. One of the devices which seems to have evinced much responsible reporting was the assurance that each piece of information would be fully acknowledged to the correspondent whose address also would be published for the benefit of future investigators.
The information thus collected was sorted district by district and further sub-sorted by Police Stations. The work of compilation, once the preliminary verification and checking of the answers was over, was to be in three sections as follows :-
(a) The first section was to contain systematic information on the village, the villa gers, their occupations, communications and other special features, mainly based on Section A of the questionnaire.
(b) The second section was to contain all available information on the festival itself, the worship of deities particularly rituals and forms of worship. This would be based mainly on Section B of the questionnaire.
(c) The third section, to be based on Section C of the questionnaire, would contain information about the fair and economic activity apd amusement connected wilh the fair.
It will doubtless be a matter of great satisfaction to scholars that the scheme was very enthusiastically received by all my colleagues when its outline together with the \Ve!:it Bengal questionnaire was circulated in February, 1960. My colleagues felt that the Census provided a unique opportunilY for conducting such a comprehensive survey with the help of the net work of staff placed by the State Governments at their disposal. State Superintendents were quick to recognise that such a survey would be of great help to those who might care to inves tigate the religious centres and festivals, inland trade and commerce, art motifs and designs, circuits of trade, ancient trade routes and special manufactures. It would give the student of toponymy much valuable clue and the student of history much valuable insight into the organisation of markets. IV
The proposal to conduct this survey was accepted in the Second Conference of Census Superintendents held in August, 1960. Various aspects of the survey, then in progress, were discussed again in the regional meetings of Census Superintendents held in Trivandrum, Darjee ling and Srinagar in May and June 1961. My colleagues were able to report further progress at the Census Social Studies Camp held in December 1961, when several elaborations of the original questionnaire and in investigational methodology were also discussed. It was further proposed to undertake more intensive surveys of a small number of very important fairs and festivals in each State. At the third Conference of Census Superintendents in February 1962 my colleagues took the further decision to prepare maps of fairs and festivals on the basis of districts and even of tehsil or taluks, some States having already made much progress in this direction.
The scholar will find in these lists much to excite his curiosity. First, they show what an extensive network of seasonal and perennial markets, village fairs still provide to native craftsmanship and industry. Secondly, they help to connect economic streams with social and religious movements. Thirdly, they suggest how a succession of ~mall fairs in a time series culminate in a very big fair, almost always in the heart of a particular area, and how this big event gradually subsides through another time series of small fairs, so that an endless cycle of trade, social and religious intercourse is kept in motion. Fourthly, they insinuate a great deal about what Buchanan-Hamilton was charged to investigate a century and a half ago' "the situation of the artists and manufacturers, the mode of providing their goods, the usual rate of their labour, and any particular advantages they may enjoy: their comparative affluence with respect to the cultivators of the land, their domestic usages, the nature of their sales, and the regulations respecting their markets." Fifthly, they can very greatly help in reconstructing ancient and not so ancient trade routes in the country, and, again, what Buchanan-Hamilton was asked to investigate; "the nature of the conveyance of goods by land and water, and the means by which this may be facilitated, aspecially by making or repairing roads."
NEW DELHI, ASOK 1HTRA,
September 5, 1964. REGISTRAR GENERAL, INDIA. PREFACE
I must acknowledge that the inspiration for As part of the studies of 1961 Census I am presently engaged in a survev of fairs and festivals of Andhra attempting a survey of Fairs and Festivals of Andhra Pradesh for which detailed and exhaustive informa Pradesh came from a note that the Registrar Gene tion is being collected. The material so collected will be compiled and edited in a volume to be ral of India, Shri Asok Mitra, circulated on the published by the Census Office. In order to obtain a efforts he made to bring out a compendium of Fairs complete picture of festivals and worship of Gods and Goddesses all over Andhra Pradesh, it is impera and Festivals of West Bengal, following on the 1951 tive that we should obtain as detailed inf.. rmation as Census. possible about all fairs and festivals that are obsen'cd throughout the year in every village of Andhra Pradesh I shall be much obliged if you will be good The Survey waS somewhat ambitious in scope. enough to help me in the cf)llenion of information on festivals and worship of Gods and Goddess{'s It was proposed to make a complete and compre observed thoughout the year in your village/town in hensive collection of information on every fair and the questionnaire enclosed. festival celebra ted in all the villages and towns of I trust you will agree that if we should succeed the State. The fairs and festivals celebrated by the in obtaining full information for each and every community in different areas truly reflect our cul village of Andhra Pradesh, I shall have prepared a volume remarkable for its high degree of thoroughness ture, history and tradition. In the present tempo and comprehensiveness. Such a volume will be of vny of change of the ways and values of I ife, several of great impartance to many types of scholars. But thii aim cannot be achieved without yOllr help and the ancient institutions and practices were fast co-operation. I am aware that you are already under disappearing or falling into disuse. Before man's heavy pressure of your own work and responsibilities. Nevertheless, I believe that you will not hesitate to memory would completely lose traces of these impor undertake this burden in order to help me to obtain tant links in the cultural history of the people, it Was a full and truthful picture of our own countrv. I shall gratefully acknowledge your honorary labour by felt that it would greatly help if a record was made, keeping the information permanently rf>corded under to the extent po~sible, of all the fairs and festivals your name as the correspondent and shall be obliged if you wi II be good enough to send me your reply conducted even in the remotest villages, forests or directly hy post or throngh the Census enumerator hills of the State and give whatever account that who visits your house or the Tahsildar of your taluk." could be obtained on their ·significance, the descrip tion of the deities, the details of the ritual etc., con The enumerators were mostly village school nected with every festival. There could not be a teachers or in a few cases village officers. They had more opportune occasion than the Census to launch local knowledge of the area they were covering. on a scheme such as this when it would be possible The Census Charge Superintendents were requested to reach the nooks and corners of the State through to issue the fairs and festivals questionnaire to the the Census Organisation. A questionnaire was enumerators at one of the training classes and collect finali sed in advance on the ad vice of the Registrar them back at a subsequent trainining class or at the General. The questionnaire forms (given as an end of the enurneration period after the enumera Annexure to this preface) together with an appeal tors had answered the questionnaires on the basis which is reproduced below were distributed of their pl'rsonal knowledge and by local enquiries. amongst the Census enumerators to be answered and The appeal was als·:,) addressed to various other reterncd. authorities sHeh as the Commissioner of Hindu Religious Endowments Board, ~lunicipal Com "I am sure YOU will agree with me that there missioners, Executive Officers of P:1I1chayat Boards are big gaps in our knowledge of our own country. It is a vast land with differeat regions, each having ctc. Lists of recognised and scheduled fairs and peculiar customs and cultures which if studied festivals for which special arrangements are made would reveal a more comorehensive picture of our anc:cnt land. Coming to our own State, Andhra annually were also obtained from the District Pradesh, we must admit that half the State is not Collectors, Dis~rict Supc:rintendents of Police and fully com'ersant with the 'details of habits customs and languages of the other half Each bit has its Di strict Health Officers etc. A press release was also oWn beauty and variety to reveal in the form of issued announcing the schem~ and appealing to all hitherto unex[)lored knowledge to the other half. interested to send whatever information they
It is my endeavour during the Census Operations could. of 1961 to study different aspects of the culture and civilisation of the people of the entire State and publish in one common volume an integrated account The response was most encouraging. About of what now forms the population of Andhra Pradesh. 15,000 questionnaires were returned filled. The vi
quality of the replies of course varied from 'excellent' No. 1 Srikakulam District to 'indifferent' depending on the interest that No. 2 Visakhapatnam District t he corre~pondent himself had in an enq uiry of this No, 3 East Godavari District nature. By and large there was evidence of the No. 4 yVest Godavari District considerable trouble that the Census enumerator No. 5 Krishna District took to ascertain first hand, the details of the fairs No. 6 Guntur District and festivals in each village. All this meant extra No. 7 N eHore District effort outside the normal Census duties of the No. 8 Chittoor District enumerators. I cannot certainly claim that the No. 9 Cuddapah District survey was complete and comprehensive in every No. 10 Anantapur District detail. There may have been several fairs and No. II Kurnool DiStrict festivals that escaped the notice of the enumerator No. 12 Mahbubnagar District or about which the information he was able to No. 13 Hyderabad District gather and present scanty. But it can certainly be No. H Medak District claimed that whatever information that has been gathered at the survey was authentic and served as Ko. 13 Nizama bad Di strict a mine of knowledge about little known things in :-':0. 16 Adilabad District the life of the community. There are innumerable No. 17 Karimnagar District religious festivals connected with certain Gods and No. 18 Warangal District Goddesse3 of particular signifiCance in particular No. 19 Khamrnam District areas; there are festivities in commemoration of his No. 20 N algonda District torical and legendary heroes; there are interesting and inspiring anecdotes connected with various In each volume, the matter is arranged tal uk saints that walked our land whose samadhis have wise. At the beginning of the compendium of each continued to be places of worship and venerati.pn to taluk, a pictorial map indicating the location of the this day and had greatly influenced the life of the village where a fair or festival is held, the name of people in certain areas; the holy rivers had their the dei ty and the period of the fair or festival is own legends and beliefs attached; a variety of curi shown. The serial number of each village covered ous and interesting rituals of worship arc practised. in the compendium is indicated in the map for easy The present survey has helped to present all these referance. It may, however, he cautioned that the in the form of a compendium. pictures given on the map may not exactly represent the actual deity eXIstmg in the village. The The filled up questionnaires were sorted out pictures are only symbolic. district wise and then taluk-wise. Rejecting those in which the information was either extremely The note covering each village will first give scanty or insignificant whatever information that the location of the village, the composition of popu· could be collected from other answers was compiled lation, and legend, if any, connected with the into a short note or monograph for each village or village, a list of temples or other places of worship town. An acknowledgement is made:to the correspon in the village and a desoription of the deities and it dent or source that provided the information at the then relates the details of the fair and festival, if cnd of the compilation for each village. This compen any, celebrated in the village. It is not as though dia will be presented in twenty volumes, one for each each temple and deity will necessaril y have a district. These will form a part of the 1961 Census festival connected with it. Only those important series of publications. All the Census publication festivals and fairs that are celebrated by the com series of Andhra Pradesh State will bear a common munity are therefore discribed. Volume No. II (the All India Series being allottcd Volume No. I) and the Fairs and Festivals reports The dates of the festival in the compilation are of this State will form Part VII-B of Volume II i.e., mostly given in terms of Telugu calendar in vogue , the Andhra Pradesh 5eries of Census publications. in the area, as recorded by the correspondents. The Part VII-B will bear scrial numbers within brackets Telugu calendar, as in Bengal, follows the lunar month consisting of 30 lunar days, beginning on the which will correspond to the location code number day of the new moon. The following statement of the district coverd by the volume. The location gives the Telugu months and the corresponding code numbers adopted for the districts are: period as per the English calendar. vii
LIST OF TELUGU MONTHS WITH THEIR The extraction of information from the filled CORRESPONDING ENGLISH MONTHS in questionnaires was entrusted to Sri M. K. Nagappa, a retired District Registrar, who had a TELUGU MONTHS ENGLISH MO."HHS special aptitude for the work, whom I selected in ChaitTam March-April consultation with the Commissioner of Hindu Reli Vaisakham April-May gious Endowments Board and appointed as a Jaistham May-June Research Assistant in my office. Information was Ashadham Junt'-July also gathered from other pubIlshed literature, Sravanam July-August district gazetteers, articles published in newspapers Bhadrapadam or and journals such as Aradhana and Andhra Prabha Bhadra A ugust-Septern ber Weekly, etc. The Research f\ssistant also conducted Asviyujam or Asvl1I September-October local enquiries in a few cases. Kartikam OctoLer-Novem ber Margasiram November-December I wish to record my thanks to the host of Cen Pushyam or Pausa December-January sus enumerators for their fullest co-operation and A1agham January-February the unstinted trouble taken by them in collectin'g Phalgunam February-March the information on the prescribed questionnaire purely as a labour of love. I wish to also thank the At the end of the compilation of each district various other officials and non-officials such as the the following are appended: Executive Officers of the temples, etc., who assi sted (I) A calendar of common festivals celebrated me in compiling the information. I place on record in the district together with their descrip my appreciation of hard and sustained services of tion, my Deputy Superintendents, Sri K. Purushotham Naidu, M. A., and Sri J. Bapu Reddy, M. A., (2) A taluk-wise statement of all the fairs and for helping me in finalising the questionnaire and festivals, monographs. The Statistical Assistant, Sri V. Radhakrishna, Computor, Sri K. Koteswara Sarma, (3) A tal uk-wise list of markets and Shandies, and Sri M. K.Nagapp::t have also been of assiHance and in bringing out this volume. My office Artists, (4) A month-wise list offairs connected with Sri P. Subba Rao, Sri M. J. Sadiq have produced the festivals. This was culled from the the Fairs and Festivals maps and other illustrations. taluk-wise statement of the fairs and festi The printing was ably supervised by Sri A. V. vals. Krishna Reddy, Asst. Compiler.
The last two lists throw light on the significant role played by the fairs and festivals in the economic A. CHANDRA SEKHAR, life of the people, the traditional trade routes, the SUPERINTENDENT OF CENSUS OPERATIONS, nature of articles sold, and the trend of trade, dc. ANDHRA PRADESH ANNEXURE FAIRS AND FESTIVALS OF ANDHRA PRADESH
QUestionnaire
Name of Village , if there is any special feature about the preparatory work of Name of Firka : the festival. Give a detailed chronological description date Name of Taluk : by date, of the method and procedure of the worship and ceremonies. What is the chief characteristic of the entire Name of Dist.rict :- ceremony? Are communal feasts, free kitchens (anllasatra) and common distribution of 'prasad' organised during the A. The Village: festival?
1. Indicate the location of the village and the chief 11. Are vows of offering made by people to the deity means of communication with the village? Mention the name in fulfilment of prayer answered? If so, what are the thin~s of the nearest Railway Station and its distance and also the or objects that are usually offered and dedicated as votive motor or boat route and its distance. Give distance by road offerings? How and when are bird and animal sacrifices from Taluk and Sub-divisional Headquarters. mad" ? What part of the rituals do these sacrifices consti tute ? 2. Give an account of the history or legend, should there be any, connected with the origin of the village 12. To what class or caste do the principal pHrons and followers of the deit\' ~nd the festival belong? Give tl e name of ,he sect ("Varna"), clan ("Cotra") and the hereditary 3. What are the castes and class~s that live in the village? What are the chief means of livelihood of the title (" Padavi") of the priest ("Pujari"). various sections of the popniation ? 13. Do non-Hindus participate in the festi\'al associat.d 4. Give details of places of common religious worship? with Hindu deities? Do the Hindus participate in non Hindu festivals? What is the extent of such participation? Are there anv festivals celebr~ ted in common bvall castes 5. What is the religion which nnjority of the villagers and communitit:s in the village? . profess? 14. Js there any congrega'ion of "':;adhus" and saints of B. The worship of deities and festivals in the village any particular religious sect on the occasion of the festival? and fairs in connection with them. If so, why do they congregate?
(i) The worship of Deities 8l. Festivals: 15. Wh~t is the general ritual of observation of religions festivals at home? Is fasting or feasting or keeping awake in the night, sea or river bath stc., obscrl(ed on any particular 6, Name of the festival, its occasion and the time, (Give festival days? the English as well as Telugu dates)
7, How ancient is the festival? If there is any history or (ii) The Fair: le5end connected with this particuhr festival, please narrate it. Is thi, fe3tival a plrticular festival of the particular 16. Where is the fair held? On how much land? To village/area/caste:class, and limited within its fold? Or, is whom does the land belong-to an individual owner, or is it this festival comm')nly and universally held and observed dedicated land? Are taxes, rents, gifts, elc., collected from throughout the entire district and region? the Cdr and festival? At what time of the day or night is the fair usually held? Is there any particular reason 8. Is the festival connected with the worship of any why the fair is held on this particular site? deity? i\Jention the J1ame of the deity with a brief descrip tion of the image. Is this a common village deity or a personal '17. How ancient is the ftir? For how many days is it or family deity? Is there a'IY temple or "Sthan" (sacred held? How many penople atleod? \Vhat are the maio ca;t("s ahode, for the deity in the village? If so, give a description or claiSe, fro'n whic!I the largest !lllmber of people are of the same. If the deity has no anthropomorphic' or zo 1m· drawn? Name the neighbouring villa'(es or uni,)fls from which orphic2 image. then in what form is it worshipped' What people a
. 10. From what date does the worship of the deity and 19. How many shops, stalls, booths, tic., are opened in the the fe,ti,'al begin? For how m'lny dIys does it continue? fair? How m'lny sellers sit in the open spaces? What is the When do the prep:u.ltions for the festival begin, Mention figure of hawkers and pedlars 1
1. Human form. 2 Animal form. lX
20. Of all the shops, stalls. booths and pedlars, how (i) Other miscellaneous articles. many sell ? 21. What facilities are available for the boarding and (a) Foodstuffs - Sweetmeats, fried chips and other lodging of pilgrims or visitors' Are there any chollltries, Are varieties of food. any special pandals erected? Is any public feeding organised? Do outside visitors and pilgrims stay for more than a day for the festival or fair? (b) Utensils - copper, brass, iron, glass, earthen ware, etc 22., What are the principal arrengements for catering recreatIOn and amusement to the people coming to the fair? (c) Stationery - lanterns, torchlights, looking glasses, Gi\,c details of sports, sea-saw, circus, magic, gamhling, combl and various other assorted goods. lottery, jatras, theatres, musical soirees, etc., that are or ganised in the fair. What are tte most common themes of the jatra and theatres etc,? Which parties come and from where (d) ::vledicine - Ayurvedic herbs, kaviraji, hakimi, do they come? Is there any dramatic or entertainment party etc in the village itself' Give name and address of the leader of the party, Is it possible to collect songs and themes of the (e) Book~ and Pictures - What are the most common jatra anel theatres? Do the same parties come e\'ery ye.lr? types of books and pictures that sell best? How memy people do see or hear and participate in all the amllsemcnts ? (f) Clothing materials-mill made, hand loom products, piece-cloths, ready made garments, 'lungis', satranjis, 23. Is it a necesS3Y religious rit'lal to drink 2lcohol or mats, etc any other intoxicant during the ceremonies of 1I'0rsh ip and fest ivai?
(g) Agricultural and artisanry implements - What are 24. Other remarks: Describe any other features. the articles and implements? Are sales of cattle, goats, birds and other animals transacted? Name of correspondent:
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z~~ 'g • CONTENTS Page 5 Foreword i-iv Preface v-xi Section
I NIZAMABAD TALUK 1-6 II ARMUR TALUK 7-12 III KAMAREDDY TALUK 13-21 IV YELLAREDDY TALUK 23-26 V BANSWADA TALVK 27-38 VI MADNUR IND. SUB TALUK 39-44 VII BODHAN TALUK 45-52
APPENDICES
I Calendar of festivals commonly observed in Nizamabad District (3)-[21 ] II Statements of Fairs and Festivals in Nizamabad District [22]-[42] III List of Markets and Shandies [43] IV List of Fairs [44]-[45]
MAPS
Nizamabad District Facing Contents Facing page Nizamabad Taluk 1 Armur Taluk 7 Kamareddy Taluk 13 Yellareddy Taluk 23 Banswada Taluk 27 Madnur Ind. Sub Taluk 39 Bodhan Taluk 45
ILLUSTRATIONS Facing page or Between pages Plate I Hanuman Temple, Sllrangapuram 2&3 Plate II Hanuman, Sarangapuram 2&3 Plate III Samartha Ramdas, Nizamabad 4&5 Plate IV Neelakanteswaraswamy, Nizamabad 4&5 Plate V Bada Ramamandir, Nizamabad 4&5 Plate VI Ramaswamy Temple, Dichpalle 4&5 Plate VII Ramaswamy, Dichpalle 4&5 GLOSSARY [47]-[48] INDEX [49]-[50]
NIZAMABAD TALUK ~ o W~ Il:J <{..J ..J<{ _J I W >-
o< <:>:: J 5(I) ..J z< ~ ~ • ~ ~ § ~ .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ g~ l- ~ s: Section I NIZAMABAD TALUK ~haikhapur- Situated at a distance of 6 miles The temples of Sri Venkateswaraswamy, Rama OC' from Navipet Railway Station on Kacheguda swamy, Narasimhaswamy with his image in the Manmad meter gauge section of the South Central Narasimha (Manlion) form. Gowthameswara with Railway. a Sivalingam, situated on the banks of the river Godavari, Kasivisweswaraswamy, Valmiki Mutt, The total population of the village is 154 and Nagareswara, Mahalakshmi and Hanuman are the it is made up of several communities of Caste places of worship in this village. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (63). The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Sri Venkateswaraswamy jestival is celebrated for 10 days from Asviyuja Suddha Padyami to Dasami Attahulla Hussain urs is celebrated for 3 days (September - October). Cocoanuts are offered. from 29th Shawval (February-March). About 600 Fasting and jagarana are observed. It is an ancient local people congregate irrespective of caste or festival and of local significance. Brahmins and creed. Vaisyas are the chief patrons. Local Hindus congregate. Prasndam is distributed to all and free SOURCE Statement oj Fairs and Festivals furnished by feeding is arranged. Superintendent oj Police, Nizamabad Narasimhaswamyfestival is celebrated for 10 days 2. SiranpalJe-Situated at a distance of about 6 from Vaisakha Suddha Shashti to Purnima (April-May). furlongs from Sirnapalle Railway Station, 4 miles It is an ancient festival and of local significance. from Navipet Railway Station and 13 miles from Local Hindus congregate. Prasadam is distributed Nizamabad. to all and there is also free feeding. The total population of the village is 518 and Sri Rama Kalyanam is celebrated for 9 days from it is made up of several communities of Caste Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Navami (March-April). It Hindus; Scheduled Castes (127). The chief means is an ancient festival and of local significance. of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Local Hindus congregate. Prasadam is distributed to all and there is local free feeding. Kallal Saheb urs is celebrated for a day in Chaitram (March-April). 1,000 devotees, local and SOURCE: Sri BaJanna, Patwari, Binola the surrounding villages congregate irrespective of cas te or creed. 4. Yarncha - Situated at a distance of 4 miles from Fakhrabad Railway Station. SOURCE; Statement of Fairs and Festivals jurnished by Superintendent oj Police, Nizamabad The total population of the village is 639 and it is multi ethnic; Caste Hindus; Scheduled Castes 3. Binola-Situated at a distance of 6 miles from (167). The chief means of livelihood of the people Navipet Railway Station and IS miles from is agriculture. Nizamabad. This village is also known as Valmiki Vittobhaswamy festival is celebrated for 2 days on Kshetram. Phalguna Suddha Vidi;'a and Tadiya (February The total population of the village is 1,779 an d March). A bout 500 local Hindus congregate. it is made up of the following communities. Caste SOURCE; Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Viswabrahmin, Superintendent of Po lie.: , Ni;:.amabad Scheduled Castes (298)-Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The chief meam of livelihood of the people are 5. Nagapur - Situated at a distance of 2 miles agriculture and other traditional occupations. from Fakhrabad Railway Station. 2 SECTION The total population of the village is 1,457 and The tot.1l population of the village is 669 and it is made up of several communities of Caste it is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; Scheduled C:lstes (87); and Scheduled Hindus; Scheduled Castes (22). The chief means Tribes (85). The chief means of livelihood of the of livelihood of the people is agriculture. people is agriculture. VenkateswarasUillmy festh'al is celebrated in Asvi)'ujam Hazarath Baksha urs is celebrated for 2 days (September - October). 2,000 Hindus local and from 20th of Jamadi-us-sani (October-November). from the neighbouring villages congregate. About 500 local devotees of all communities SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished b)! participa teo Superintendent of Police, Ni:::;amabad SOURCE: Sfatement of Fa irs and Festivals furnished by Collector. Nizamabad 8. MakJur - Situated at a distance of about 5 miles from Nizamabad Railway Station. 6. Gundaram - Situated at a distance of about one mile from Jankampet Railway Station and 5 The total population of the village is 3,267 and miles from Nizamabad. it is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; SchedUled Castes (657). The chief means The total population of the village is 1,798 and of livelihood of the people is agriculture. it is made up of the following communi ties: Caste Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Motati Kapu, Veerabhadraswamy festival is celebrated for 5 days Munnuru Kapu, Tenugu, Kummari, Kammara, in Ashadam (June-July). About 1,000 Hindu devo Vadla, etc.; Scheduled Castes (231 )-Mala, Madi tees of this and the neighbouring villages congre ga; and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood gate. of the people are agriculture, trade and other traditional occupations. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Superintendent of Police, Ni:::;amabad Srirama temple with His stone image in human form and Anjancyaswamy temple with His stone 9. Manikbhander - Situated at a distance of 3 image are the places of worship in this village. miles from Nizamabad Railway Station on Kache guda-Manmad section of the South Central Rail Srirarna Navami festival is celebrated for 9 days from way. Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Navami (March-April). Cocoanuts and sweets are offered. Local Hindu The total population of the village is 1,415 and devotees participate. Fasting and jagarana are it is made up of several communities of Caste observed. Pujari is a Brahmin. Prasadam is distri Hindus; SchedUled Castes (228). The chief means buted to all. There is free feeding. Dramas and of livelihood of the people is agriculture. bhajans afford entertainment to the visitors. Srirama Navami is celebrated for 9 days from Anjaneyaswamy jayanthi is celebrated for 4 days Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Navami (March-April) to from Chaitra Suddha Dwadasi to Purnima (March the Lord's photo. Local Hindus congregate. April). Festival arrangements are made a week in advance. Cocoanuts and sweets are offered. It is SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by an ancient festival of local significance. Komati Collector, Nizamabad Somaiah is the chief patron. Local Hindus parti cipate. Pujari is Ananthaiah, a Brahmin of Bhara 10. Khanapur - Situated at a distance of It dwajasa gotram. Prasadam is distributed to all. miles from Jankampet Railway Station and 4! miles There is free feeding. from Nizamabad. SOURCE: Sri Gangadhar, Police Patel, Gundaram The total population of the village is 1,096 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste 7. Anantgiri - Situated at a distance of about a Hindus-Vaisya, Munnuru Kapu, Golla, Tenugu, mile from Jankampet Railway Station and 6 mil(':s Padmasale, Kuruva, Vadla, Kummari, Kammara, from Nizamabad. Goundla; Scheduled Castes (157)-Mala, Madiga; ~. ,. t @,.. J~; }, _t r,. i ;- ~ ~ Plate I Hanuman Temple, Sarangapuram. / Plate II: Hanuman, Sarangapuram. NIZAMABAD TALUK 3 and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the a heavy dov"n pour of rain. On that spot the people are agriculture, trade and other traditional temple of Lord Hanuman was constructed according occupations. to the wishes of Samartha Ramdas. The temples of Hanuman, Pochamma :lnll Srirama .\'ol'ami is celebrated for 9 days from Veerabhadraswamy with His stone image are the Chaitra Suddha Ekadasi to Purnima (March-April) in places of worship in this village. the tf'mple of Hanuman. Offerings are made to the Lord ill fulfilment of their vows both in cash and Vterabhadraw"'arny uthsavam is celebrated [or a kind. This festival is of local significance. A large day on J.\1agha Bakula Ckathurdasi (January-February). number of devotees local and f.om distant places Fasting and jagarana are observed. Cocoanuts are like I\1aharashtra ane! Gujarat, congregate. The offered. Rathothsavam and Agnigundnms are the chiefly chief patroll is Sri Swami, a bachelor. Pujari is a performed rituals. This is an ancient festival Brahmin. Prasadam is distrihuted to all. There is confined to this place and the neighbollrinp; few free feeding and facilities are available to the villages. Sarvasri Kondala Lingiah and Viswana vi~it{)rs in the temple tham are the chief patrons. Abuut 500 Hindu devo tees local ~md from nearby vilb·.~c:; congregate. Puji/ri A fair is held in this connection. A few shops is a Jangam of Siva gotram \\'ith hereditary rights. :ue erected for selling all domestic and cosmetic Prasadam is distributed to all and there is free goods. feeding. SOeRCF.: Sri V. Rfldhakrishna, Statistical Assistant, CenJu A fair is held in this connection near the temp\c office, H}'derabad for a day. About 500 people local and from neigh. bouring villages congregate. Eatables, utensils, )2. Kulaspur - Situated at a distance of 4 miles 'TIirrors, comhs, toys, etc., are sold. There is a from Dichpalle Railway Station. chowltry. The total population of the village is 2,088 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste SOL'RCE: Sri Buckchareddy, Police Patel, Khanapur Hindus; Scheduled Castes (247). The chief means 11. Sat'angapuram - Situated at a distance of of livelihood of the people is agriculture. 6 miles from Nizamabad. Bownagudi Peddamma jatara is celebrated for 2 days in Pushyam (December-January). About 200 The tot:11 population of the village is 515 and local Hindus participate. it 1S made up of several Hindu communities; Sche dul(.'u Castes (12). The chief means of livelihood SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by of the people is agriculture. Superintendent of Police, Ni;:;amabad The temple of Hanuman is the only place of worship in this village. T.here is a legend connec 13. Sirpur - Situated at a distance of 4 miles ted with the origin of this temple. Legend goes to from Ni zamabae!. say that Samartha Ramdas, the preceptor of Chatra The total popUlation of the village is 1,514 and pati Shivaji, is believed to have constructed this it is made up of several communities of Caste temple. During the pe'['iod of Rajas of Sirnapalle, Hindus; Scheduled Castes (234). The chief means once there was a drought in this area. The king of livelihood of the people are agriculture and other requested the Brahmins to perform puja to invoke traditional occuputions. lord Indra, the God of rains. Accordingly when they were. performing puj as in Sarangapura tank Hanuman ja)'anti is celebrated for a day in Samartha Ramdas who ,vaS passing that way on a Phalgunam (February-March). About 200 local pilgrimage came to know of this and drew an image Hindu devotees congregate. of Hanuman near the tank on a rock with charcoal and went for bath. Later the big rock containing SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and FfSlivals furnished by the image of Han uman cleft into 1'wo and there W:lS Superintendent of Police, Nizamabad 4 SECTION I 14. Nizamabad-The district headquarters and a Bada Rama Mandir is said to have been built Railway Station on Kacheguda-Manmad section of by Samartha Ramdas, preceptor of Shivaji. The the South Central Railway. This is connected by stone images of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and bus with Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nanded and Hanuman deities are installed in the temple. Hyderabad districts. There are well laid out roads connecting Nizamabad with various parts of the Srirama Navami is celebrated for 10 days from State and Bombay as well. A large number of Chaitra Suda'ha PadJami to Dasami in Bada Rama Man villages of the district are connected by good roads dir. Puja and Abhishekam in the morning and purana under the Nizamsagar Development Scheme. kalakshepam and harikatha in the evening are the rituals celebrated during these ten days. Free masS Historically speaking 'Indur' was the original feeding is arranged to 250 to 300 people regularly name of Nizamabad. Indur is a corrupt form of on all th::-se days. Sri Kalyanaswamy, a Brahmin 'Indrapuri' named after an ancient king. This of Vasista gotram is the pujari with hereditary king might have been Indradatta of the rebel Tri lights. kuntaka dynasty, Circa 388 A. D., who ruled over the lower regions of Narmada and the Tapti or the Datta Mandir is said to have been built by a mighty Vishnukundin Indravarmar I, Circa 500 saint, named Santacharya, about 175 years ago. He A. D. or some other king of the same name and migrated to this place from Parbhani District of the same dynasty. Historically obscure, Indur was present Maharashtra State. conquered by Allaudin Khilji in 1311 and later formed part of the Bahamani and Qutb Shahi King Datta jayanti is celebrated for 9 days from doms and the Moghul Empire until it came under Alargasira Suddha Saptami to Purnima (November the Nizams. December). Besides regular puja, harikatha and bhajan are arranged on all the nine days. Free feeding is also arranged for 200 at 250 pilgrims of The original 'Indur District" underwent large scale territorial changes in 1905 and the name Indur all castes on all these nine days. Sri Ananta Maha itself was changed to Nizamabad after the railway raj, a Brahmin of Bharadwaja gotram is the pujari I ine had been completed." I with hereditary rights. The Mandir got an Inam land of 12 acres of wet land. There is a fort here, the antiquity of which is traced back by 12th century. It contains Jain art There is a legend relating to the ongm of the pieces. N eelakantcswara temple of Kantesw ar. The temple is located on a picturesque hillock and enclosed by Turmeric, a cash crop, is grown on a very large a high wall. The architect is believed to have used scale. This is considered to be the largest turmeric only one hand for the construction of the temple. growing district in the State. His mother used to get him food. He requested her not to look back on her way to home. But she The total population of the town is 79,093 and looked back after passing some distance. From it is made up of the following communities: Caste then onwards the construction of the tower was Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Munnuru Kapu, stopped. The significance of the temple is that ra ys Telaga, Bestha, Chakali, Mangali, etc.; Scheduled of the rising sun fall directly on the Sivalingam. Castes (6,923)- Mala, Madiga; Muslims and Chris tians. The chief mear,s of livelihood of the people ]Yi:dakanteswara festival is celebrated for 2 days are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade, employ during Radhasaptami on Alagha Suddha Sapthami and ment and other traditional occupations. Ashtami (January-February). A wooden chariot is taken round the temple with the kalasam and cocoa Bada Rama Mandir, Datta Mandir, temples of nuts are offered to the kalasam. This festival is of Hanuman, Raghunathaswamy, Neelakanteswara ancient origin and people from all the neighbouring swamy, Venkateswara, mosques and church are the villages come and participate in this festival. 30,000 places of worship in this town. devotees local and from the neighbouring villages 1. Places of Interest in Andhra Pradesh, published by InfOtmation and Public Relations Department, Hyderabad-p. 154. Plate III . Samartha Ramdas, Nizamabad. I Plate IV: Neelakanteswaraswan'lY, :'\izamabad. Plate V: Bada Ramamandir, izamahad. Plate VI Ramaswamy Temple, Dichpalle. '. / PJate VII Ramaswamy, Dichpalle. NIZAMABAD TALUK 5 of all castes congregate. Prasadam is distributed to 5. Sri S.L. Sastry, Ex.M.L.A., Ni;:;amabad all. 6. Places of Interest in Andhra Pradesh publi shed by Information and Public Relations A fair is held in this connection near the temple Department, Hyderabad for two days. 30,000 people congregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, mirrors and combs, pictures and 7. List of Ursu5, Melas, etc., in H.E.H. the photos, ayurvedic medicines, cloth and cloth'?s, Nizam's Dominions by Sri Mazhar agricultural implements and toys are sold. Hussain, M.A., B.Sc. Janda festival or Venkateswaraswamy Mda is cele 15. Dusgaon- Situated at a distance of 3 miles brated for 15 days from Bhadrapada Suddha Padyami to from Ghanpur. PUTnima (August - September). A Janda (flag) is installed in a particular place in Nizamabad and The total population of the village is 1,156 and pilgrims throng to have darshan of it. The same is it is made up of the following communities: Caste carried to the temple at Tirupati, i. e., to the main Hindus; Scheduled Castes (202). The chief means shrine of Sri Venkateswaraswamy ::md brought back of livelihood of the people is agriculture. every year. Some devotees fulfil their vows here itself, if they are unable to go to Tirupati. Offerings Siddeswar Ramaswamy festival is celebrated for 2 are made in the form of cash as weU as in kind. da ys on Chaitra Suddha Padyami and Vidiya (March This festival is of ancient origin and widely known. April). 500 local people of all communities partici 6,000 devotees local and from distant places come pate. and take part in the festival. Pujari is Sri Raghavul u, a Brahmin. Prasadam is distributed to all and there SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by is free mass feeding. Superintendent of Police, Nizamabad A fair is held in this connection with a few 16. Dicbpalle- A Railway Station on Kacheguda. shops selling sweets, utensils, lanterns, mirrors, Manmad section of the South Central Railway. combs, pictures, photos, books, toys, etc. The total popUlation of the village is 2,420 and Amanullah Hussain urs is celebrated for 2 it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin days from 17th of Jamadi-ul-Avval (September-Octo dus; Scheduled Castes (325). The chief means of ber). 1,000 local devotees and from the neig h livelihood of the people are agriculture and other bouring villages congregate. A few shops arc traditional occupations. opened. There is a Ramaswamy temple on the top of a Dawd Pasha Saheb urs is celebrated for a day OIl hillock. It is an ancient temple with beautiful 10th Safar (June-July) with 200 local congregation figures carved on the walls depicting the art of love. of aU communities. The marble idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are worth seeing. Shah Kamaluddin Baibani urs is celebrated for 3 days from 19th of Jamad-ul-Avval (September-Octo Ramaswam)' festival is celebrated for 3 days in ber). 200 local devotees without any distinction of Pushyam (December-January). 1,000 local people caste or creed congregate. of all communities participate. A huge chariot drawn by the devotees is taken round the village SOURCE: 1. Sri A. Kishandas, Ni;:;amabad during this festival. Daily puja is performed by a 2. Sri Ramachandra Singh, B.Sc., B.Ed. hereditary priest. Teacher, Nizamabad A fair is also held in which local handicrafts 3. Sri r. Raghavaiah, M. A., Lecturer, and domestic goods, etc., are sold. Girira) Govt. Arts Co!lege, Nizamabad 4. Sri Kasinathrao, B.A., LL.B., Advocate, SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Nizamabad Superintendent of Police, }''1 i::.amabad 6 SECTION I 17. MaI1apur- Situated at a distance of 8 miles from Indalwai Railway Station on Hyderabad from Indalwai Railway Station on Kacheguda Manmad line. Manmad line. The total popUlation of the village is 2,048 and The total population of the village is 441 and it it is made up of the following communities: Caste is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; Hindus; Scheduled Castes (330). The chief means Scheduled Castes (68). The chief means of liveli of livelihood of the people is agriculture. hood of the people is agriculture. Stone images of Sita, Rama, Lakshmana are Venkateswaraswamy festival is celebrated for 6 days worshipped here. from Phalguna Suddha Padyami (February - March). Sri Ramaswamy uthsavam is celebrated for 9 days 2,000 people, local and from nearby villages of all from Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Navami (:\hrch-April). comm unities participate. Local Hindus congregate. SOURCE: St(}trment Fairs and Foti,'a/s furnished b)' ,1 SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Collector, Nizamabad Tahsildar, Xi;:,amabad 18. Nallavalle- Situated at a distance of 2 miles 20. Challagarga - Sit~lated at a distance of 14 from Sirnapalle Railway Station, 5 miles from miles from Dichpalle Railway Station. Hyderabad-Nagpur road and 20 miles from Niza mabad. The total population of the village is 420 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste The total population of the village is 1,905 and Hindus; Scheduled Castes (62). The chief means it is made up of the following communities: Caste of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Hindus-Gurati Kapu, Perika, Muthracha, Chakali, Mangali, Vadla, Padmasale; Scheduled Castes Rajeswaraswamy in the form of a stone Siva (228)-Mala, Madiga. The chief means of liveli lingam is worshipped. hood of the people are agriculture and other tradi tional occupations. Sivaratri is celebrated for a day on Magha Bahula Chathurdasi (January - February). Local Hindus The stone image of Thirumalanathaswamy in congregate. a temple at a distance of one mile from the village is worshipped. There are also brass images inten SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivalsfurnished by ded for taking them out in procession during the Tahsildar, ]'{izamabad festival. 21. DharipaJle - Situa ted at a distance of 10 miles Thirumalanathaswamy uthsavam is celebrated for 6 from Sirnapalle Railway Station on Secunderabad days from Vaisakha Suddha Dasami to Purnima (April Manmad line. May). This is an ancient festival confined to this and a few nearby villages. About 1,500 people of The total population of the village is 3,468 and all communities participate. Pujaris are Chyaluni it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin Ayyavarlu with hereditary rights. dus; Scheduled Castes (327). The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. A fair is held in this connection in a place one mile away from the village. 1,500 people from this N arasimhaswamy in the form of a stone saligram and nearby villages congregate. Traders from is worshipped. Indalwai, Sirnapalle, Gannaram, Ellareddypeta come and raise pandals for the occasion. Eatables, Sri Narasimhaswamy Navarathrothsavam is celebra utensils, Lwterns, torches, mirrors and combs, etc. ted for ten days from Asviyuja Suddha Padyami to ar~ sold. Veedhinatakam provides entertainment. Dasami (September-October). Local Hindus con gregate. SOURCE: Sri C. Lakshmireddy, Cultivator, Nallavalle SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by 19. Ramadgu - Situated at a distance of 8 miles Tahsi{dar, Nizamabad ARMUR TALUK FAIRS AND FESTIY ALS ARMUR TALUK IlIZAMABAD DIST~J(T, A. P. ,. .! , ~ , . . ,1) 11 U lM)M"~lS NIRMAL TALUK ,,'~ 00' METPALLE INDEX CODE NUI>'BER AI'>IO ~. N S NO. NAME OF DIETY AND PERIOD ., NAME Of VillAGE OF FAIR OR FESTIVAL " ,4S' I 18 KUSHTAPUR SRI RAMASWAMY 0 ta."" r 20 NOOTHPAl.'E RAJESW/lAASWAMY I 0 Jo.ocr 1 Q) ]' ISAPALI.E. V£NKATESWARASWAMY I }.W-FErt J AAMU~ VENKATESW/lAASWAMY 0 JVtT·AtJt: BAYAZID KHil/'i NOY·O£( ~~ NARAS/MHASWAMY NIZAMABAD 0 .5 JAWI'UA ItINGANAYAKULU TALUK JUlr.AU<; I <1) 47~1 I'ENKA.TESWARASWh~Y etC-JAN 0 51 RATNAPUIt MALlANNA I I J~·F[' 54 NAGAPUIt Io4AJ.LANNA ,;N CD JAN·'U SIRSILLA ® 55 SALKONDA HAZAIIATH MULTANI PI>SHA TALUK " .... AStI...,..~C.AA ~STftlC,. U @ 91 rEAGATLA VENKATESW/lAASWAMY JAN.," @ 91 UPWOIl RAlESW/lAASWAMY JA·I·fE! I'ENKA TESW/lAASW AM Y ~I 1 @ 99 MORTAO @ 101 HASAKO THUll hWiADEVASWAMY '[1. IE'-""~ I I .® 102 CHOVTPALI£ I.AI(5HNJ NARASIMHI>SWAMY N'-IMY @ liS M07H RAJESW/lAASWAMY KAMAREDOY 'U-MM TALUK 110 SABAPVA .SABA NATHAD SHAH VAU ® HOV-Ole IZI SHE£MGAL SIMHADRI HARASlNoHASWAMY ® OCT. NOV 116 MGVL VENKATESWARASWAMY @ JAN·fElJ KHMA MOHAMMAD HAFIZ ALI SHAH APk "U' --- 'fA(.AJl't etX)NOA/ty HAZAIIATH GULAM All SIIAH (it rALI.i« "'~ADQvAA'ra:It' @ 12J ANKAPUr< MALLANNASWAMY i @ ",u...ACi% WITH Sil''''JA&. NV"'.'" .® 1]1 JAKARANPALL£ AD/NATfjASWAMY ® 135 KAliGOrA KANDERAOSWAMY I HOY Nt i _ - _ OTNe" 'tOADS @ I~ SIRKONDA RAMESWARASWAMY d @ J74 RAVVTlA GADI/MI(ULA IWES:~~W''''.!Y J~.1f' ------~.1~1~!'------___--~-~~====_:_,~;t!~~_.~_,---_------_j "W"'k~ Section II ARMUR TALU K sr';ushtapur - Situated at a distance of 28 miles Venkateswaraswamy fistwal is celebrated for two (0''' from Nizamabad. days on Magha Suddha Purnima and Bahula Padyami (J anuary-February). This festival is of local signi The total population of the village is 2,042 and ficance. 500 people of all castes participate. it is of multiethnic composition - Caste Hindus; Scheduled Castes (279). The chief means of liveli SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by hood of the people is agriculture. Collector, Nizamabad 4. Armur - Taluk headquarters situated at a Sri Ramaswamy is worshipped in this place. distance of 16 miles from Nizamabad. Sri Ramaswamy festival is celebrated for 6 tIa ys The total population of the town is 13,249 and from Alagha Bahula Chathurda,i to Phalguna Suddha Pad it is made up of the following communities: Caste yami (January-February). This is confined to this Hindus; Scheduled Castes (893); and Muslims. and the nearby villages. 2,000 Hindus local and The chief means of livelihood of the people are from the neighbouring villages congregate. There agriculture, agricultural labour, trade, employment is a choultry. and other traditional occupations. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festzva!s furnished by The temple of Lord Venkateswaraswamy is the Collector, Ni::;amabad place of worship in this town. 2. Noothpalle - Situated at a distance of 24 miles Venkateswaraswamy fistival is celebrated from from Dichpalle Railway Station. Sravana Suddha Tadiya to Ekadasi (July-August) for 9 days. Every year as a custom the pujari collects offe The total population of the village is 1,645 and rings of cash and kind made by the devotees in the it is made up of several communities of Caste temple and hand over them along with a flag to the Hindus; Scheduled Castes (275). The chief means Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam. This festival of livelihood of the people is agriculture. extends to the nearby villages also. 5,000 Hindus participate in the festival. There is an inam land Lord R::tjeswaraswam y is worshipped III this place. of 2.28 acres. A fair is held in connection with the festival Rajeswaraswamy festival is celebrated for one with 125 shops approximately. da yon Asviyuja Suddha Padyami (September-October). 500 local people of all communities participate. Bayazid Khan urs is celebrated on the 19th SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Ra::;ab (November-December). 500 local people of Supertntendent of Police, Nizamabad all commun itiEs congregate. Narasimhaswamy festival is celebrated for a day 3. Isapal1e - Situated at a distance of about 16 on Vaisakha Bahula Dwadasi (April-May). 500 local miles from Nizamabad Railway Station. devotees of all communities congregate. The total popUlation of the village is 1,302 and it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin SOURCE: 1. Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Collector, Nizamabad dus; Scheduled Castes (317). The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. 2. List flf Urses, j\1elas, Jatras etc., in H.E.H. the Nzzam's Dominions Venkates\varaswamy is worshipped III the 5. Jalalpur - Situated at a distance of II miles village. from Armur and 27 miles from Nizamabad Railway 8 SECTION II Station. As there are many water springs, the 7. Ratnapur - Situated at a distance of 2 miles village is called as Jalalpur. from Nizamabad-Nirmal bus route, 10 miles from Armur and 30 miles from Nizamabad. The total population of the village is 588 and it is made up of the following communities; Caste Gonareddis who migrated here long time back Hindus-Satani Vaishnava, Kapu, Munnuru Kapu; with their herds of cattle constructed this village on Scheduled Castes (192) - Aray, Mala, Madiga. the banks of river Godavari. The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. The total population of the village is 1,244 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste The places of worship m this village are the Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Kammara, Vadla, temples of Lord Ranganayaka in a cave and Nara Sale, Chakali, Mangali, Padmasale, Yerra Golla, simhaswamy. Thammala, Boya; Scheduled Castes (224) - Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The chief means of liveli In the temple of Ranganayaka the daily puja is hood of the people are agriculture, weaving, beedi conducted. Particularly sevas are offered to Lord manufacturing and other traditional occupations. Ranganayaka during Sri Krishnashtami, i.e., Sravana Bahula Ashtami (july-Angust) and Ugadi, i. e. Chaitra Mallanna temple constructed with stone and Suddha Padyami (March-April). Decorated carts are lime on a hillock in the centre of the village with taken round the temple on Ugadi day. It is being His image in human form, Rama temple and celebrated from ancient times and is confined to this· Hanuman temple are the places of worship in this village only. Local people of all communities village. 300 years back Gonareddis who Came here partICIpate. Pujari is a Satani Vaishnava of Yath constructed the present temple and installed their eendra gotl'am with hereditary rights. tutelary deity in it. Gradually Mallaiah became the village deity. Devotees observe fasting and jagaram on Tholi Ekadasi i. e., Ashadha Suddha Ekadasi (June-July) and A1allanna jatara widely known as Kanderaya jatara Mahasivaratrj on lvlagha Bahula ChaturdaSl (January takes place for 8 days from A1agha Suddha Purnima to February). The village deity is also worshipped. Bahu!a Saptami (January-February). Kalyanam is per Animals are sacrificed to the deity. formed on the fifth day. Sidimanu a kind of chariot is dragged on which 50 people sit including the SOURCE; Sri P. Murahari, Headmaster, Jalalpur pujari. Lambs, calves and sheep dedicated to the deity are left On the hillock but they are not sacri 6. Magdi - Situated at a distance of 24 miles ficed. The first calf left by any devotee is taken by from Dichpalle Railway Station. Thammalas and other calves by the pujari. Goats The total population of the village is 1,552 and and sheep are taken by Chakali, Mangali, Vadla, it is made up of the following communities: Caste Kapus, Madigas and Boyas who work during the Hindus; Scheduled Castes (299). The chief means uthsavam. Every family offers naillCdyam on Purnima of livelihood of the people is agriculture. day and vows are liquidated. This is being cele brated for the past 300 years and is confined to the Venkateswaraswamy deity is worshipped in this nearby villages. There are no patrons. 2,000 village. devotees local and from the surrounding villages congregate. All communities participate. Pujari Venkateswaraswam)1 festival is celebrated for 5 days is a Padmasale. Arullu Lingaiah is enjoying 3 from Pushya Suddha Pad)'ami to Panchami (December acres of inam land in the nearby village with here Jan uary). This festival extends to the surrounding ditary rights. Cooked millet with butter milk is villages also. About 1,000 people of all communi brought on carts and distributed to all. Rice is ties local and from the surrounding villages congre al~o distributed during these 5 days. gate. A fair is held in this connection in the centre SOURCE; Statement of Fairs and Festiva!s furnzshed by of the village for 5 days for the past 300 years. Collector, }./izamabad 2:000 people of this ar.d the surrounding villages AR:r..1UR TALUK 9 congregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, mirrors SODRCE: 1. Statement rif Fazrs and Festzvals .furnished and combs, pictures, books, clothes, agricultural by Collector, Ni::;amabad implements and toys are sold. 2. List of UrSflS, Melas, Jatras etc., tn H. E. H the Ni::;am's Duminions Dramas, swings and lotteries afford enter tainment. 10. Yergatla- Situated at a distance of 32 miles from Dichpalle Railwav Station. SOURCE: 1. Sri T. Kishan Rao, Teacher, Ratn1pur 2. Sri Raina Krishna Reedy, Ttacher, Ratna The total population of the village is 2,246 and f'ur it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin dus; Scheduled Castes (233). The chief means of 8. Nagupur - Situated at a distance of 10 miles livelihood of the people is agriculture. from Armur and 26 miles from Nizamabad Rail 'way Station. Venkatcswaraswamy is worshipped 111 this village. The total population of the village is 603 and Venkateswaraswamy festival is celebrated for 3 days it is made up of the following c')mmunities: Caste from j\;Iagha Suddha Purnima (January - February). Hindus - Munnuru Kapu, Chakali, Golla, Kapu, 1,000 devotees local and from the neighbouring Kammara, Kummari; Scheduled Castes (120)- villages of all communities participate. 1\lala, Madiga, Nayaks. Agriculture is their chief livelihood. SOURCE: Statement Qf Fairs and Fes[,'vals furnished by Collector, Ni::.amabad The temples of the village are of Sri Narasimha Swamy and Mallanna (Siva). Lord Mallanna's 11. Uploor- Situated at a distz.nce of 30 miles image is in human form. from Dichpalle Railway Station. Lord Afalfanna uthsaram is celebrated for 5 days The total population of the village is I ,901 and from Afagha Purnima to Bahula Chaviti (January-Febru it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin ary). Devi ordered a cow-herd in his dream to ask dus; Scheduled Castes (161). The chief means of his village heads for the celebration of the uthsGvam, livelihood of the people is agriculture. lest the village should be ruined. So the people Lord RaJeswaraswam_y festival is celebrated for a are celebrating the festival. The Ilthsavam is being day in Afagham (january - February). 1,000 local celebrated for the past 40 years and is confined to people and from the surrounding vJlages of all this village only. Local people participate. communities congregate. SOuRCE: Sri L. Hanumantha Reddy, Nagapur, Jalalpur P. O. SOURCE: Slatement Qf Fairs and Festivals furnished by Collector and Superintendent [j Pol ire , Ni::;amabad 9. B~lkonda - Situated at a distance of 24 miles from Dichpalle Railway Station. 12. Mortad- Situated at a distance of 32 miles from Nizamabad. The total population of the village is 7,038 and it is made up of several Hindu Castes; Scheduled The total population of the village is 5,335 and Caste s (688). The chief means of livelihood of the it is made up of several communities of Caste people is agriculture. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (684). The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Urs of Ha::;arath Mullani Pasha, a Muslim saint, is celebrated for 3 days from 6th Shahban (Decem Sri Venkateswarcswamy festIVal is celebrated for 6 ber-January). This festival is of local significance days from Phalguna Bahula Dcsami to Amavasya and extends,to the nearby villages also. There is \February - March). This festival is confined to an 'annual income of Rs. 15,000. About 2,000 this and the nearby villages. 3,000 people of all devotees irrespective of caste and creed congregate. communities participate in it. 10 SECTION II SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and Fcstiwis jurnished b)' Rajcswaraswamy temple on a gutta (hillock), a Col/ector, Nizamabad mile from the village was built by Sirnapalli Rani. She was once going to a vilJage on horseback and ] 3· Hasakothur- Situated at a distance of 26 miles from Nizamabad. when she arrived at the gutta, the horse stopped and did not move. A Gundla possessed by the Lord The total population of the village is 2,263 and asked her to constrnct a temple on the hill. Venka it is made up of several communities of Caste teswara temple, Han uman temple and another Hindus; Scheduled Castes (281). The chief means Rajeswaraswamy temple are the other places of of livelihood of the people is agriculture. worship in the vil18ge. Mahadevaswamy is the deity worshipped in RaJeswaraswam)' jestival is celebrated for a day this village. on Phalg~ma S~ldd}za Vidi)la (February - March). lvlahadcvaswamy fistival is celebrated for 5 days Sivaratri lIthsclJam is celebrated for the same Lord from Phalguna Bahula Pa4}'ami to Panclwmi (Febr for 3 days from ,Hagha Bahida Chathurdasi to Anvwasya uary - March). 500 local pec.ple of all communities (January - February). On every Saturday and participate. Sunday the Lord is wor<;hipped. The Lord is taken in a proce~sion on a chariot decorated with SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and F( stivals jurnished b), coloured electric bulbs. Cocoanuts, fruits, jaggery, Superintendent oj Police, Ni,:amabad etc., are offered. People take bath in the river, and do fasting, jagaram. This is an anrient festival 14. Choutpalle- SituatccJ at a distance of 30 confined to this and a few neighbouring villages. miles from Indalwai Railway Station. The chief patrons are Reddis, Jangams and Vaisyas. The total population of the village is 2,270 antI 5,000 devotees of all commumties partICIpate. it is made up of several communities of Caste Pujan is a Jangam of Gantala gotram with heredi Hindus; Scheduled Castes (229). The chief means tary rights. Pra;adam is distributed· to all and of I ivclihood of the people is agriculture. there is free feeding. Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy is worshipped in A fair is held in this connection for one day in this village. an area of 10 acres of hnd near the temple. 5,000 people local and from neighbouring villages con Lakshmi Narasimhaswamyjestival is celebrated for gregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, mirrors and one day on Vaisakha Suddha Ekadasi (April - May). coml)s, pictures and photos, Ayurvedic medicines, This festival is confined to this and the neig-hbour cloth and clothes. agricultural implements, etc., ing villages. 5,000 people local and from the near are s81d. Swings, circus, gambling, lottery and by villages of all communities congregate. dramas afford entertainment to the d(.votees parti,. ci pa ting in the fair and the festival. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals jurnished by Collector, Ni::_amabad SOURCE: Sri B Chenna Reddy, Headmaster, i\loth 15. Moth- Situated at a distance of 9 miles from 16. Babapur-- Situated at a distance of 18 miles Armur, 11 miles from Dichpalle Railway Station, from Indalwai Railway Station. and 26 miles from Nizamabad Railway Station. The total population of the village is 1,/12 and People say that the villa~e was built by a fakir. it is m::lue up of several communities of Caste The total population of the v:llage is 2,099 ::md HinJus; Scheduled Castes (3). The chief means it is made up of the following communities: Caste of livelihood of the people is agriculture. H;ndus~Brahmin, Vaisya, Reddi, Kamsali, Kapu, Baba Naithad Shah Va!i urs celebrated for 3 days Kammara, Kummari, Chakali, Mang,tli,' Sale, is from 14th to 16th Rajab (November-December). Gundla, Golla, Goundla, Vadrangi, Mochi, Medari; Scheduled Castes (270) -- Mala, :-"1adiga. The chief This festival is extendEd to the surr"unding villages also. I ,500 devotees of all communities congregate. means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultural labour and other traditional occupa SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and Festivals jurnished by tions. Collectur, Nl.';.amabad ARMUR TALUK 11 17. Bheemgal- Situated at a distance of 18 miles An lnam land of 20 guntas has been granted to this from lndalwai Railway Station. deity. 500 people congregate. The total population of the village is 3,415 and SOURCE: 1. Statement of Fain and Festivals fumished it is made up of several communi ties of Caste by Tahsildar, Armur Hindus; Scheduled Castes (399). The chlef means 2. List of Ursus, !vIe/as, Jataras, etc., zn of livelihood of the people is agriculture. H. E H. the }/izam's Dominions One hundred and fifty years back Lord Nara 19. Ankapur - Situated at a distance of about 14 simhaswamy idol was found in the earth and a miles from Dichpalle Railway Station. temple was constructed over it. The total population of the village is 1,934 and Lord Aarasimhaswamy festIVal is celebrated for 11 it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin days from Kartika Suddha Tadl)'a to Triodasi \ October dus; Scheduled Castes (375). The main stay of November). 4,000 Hindus local and from the near the people is agriculture. by villages congregate. l\fallannaswamy is worshipped in this village. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and festivals furnished by Tahsildar, Armur !vlallannaswamy festival is celebrated for a day on Ch'litra Suddha Chaturdasi (March-April). This 18. Argul- Situated at a distance of 12 miles festival is of local significance. 300 people of all from Dichpalle Railway Station. communities congregate in the festival. SOURCE: Statement (if Fairs and Festivals furnished by The total population of the village is 1,989 and Superintendent of Police, Nizamabad it is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; Scheduled Castes (405); and Muslims. 20. Jakranpalle - Situated at a distance of 11 The chief means of livelihood of the people is miles from Nizamabad Railway Station. agriculture. The total population of the village is 2,189 and Lord Venka teswaraswamy, Khaja Mohammad it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin Hafiz \li Syed Shah, Hazarath Gulam Ali Shah and dus; Scheduled Castes (433). The chief means of Khanderaoswamy are worshipped. livelihood of the people is agriculture. Venkatesw:1raswamy festival is celebrated for 3 Adinathaswamy festival is celebrated for a day days from Alagha Bahula Panchami to Sapthami on Chaitra Suddha Purnima (March-April). This (January-February). This festival extends to the is a widely known festival in which 3,000 devotees neighbouring villages also. 500 people of all com local and from distant places congregate irrespec mUDlties participate. An extent of 25 acres and 26 tive of caste or creed. guntas of manyam land is attached to the temple. SOURCE: Statement rif Fairs and Festivals furnished by Khaja !vlohammad Hafiz Ali Syed Shahurs is celebra Collector, Nizamabad ted for 3 days from 10th to 13th Zilhaj.(April-May). 2,000 devotees, local and from the neighbouring 21. Kaligota - Situated at a distance of about 14 villages congregate without any distinction of caste miles from Nizamabad Railway Station. or creed. The total population of the village is 1,606 and Hazrath GLllam Ali Shah IIrs is celebrated for it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin a day on 4th Rabi-ul-avval (July-August). 2,000 d us; Scheduled Castes (185). The chief means of people of all communities local and from the nearby livelihood of the people is agriculture. villages participate. Khandtraoswam_r festival is celebrated for 5 days Khanderaoswamyfestival is also celebrated for a day from Jllargasira Suddha Shashti to Dasamz (November on }IIargasira Srlddha Shashti (November-December). December). About 1,000 people local and from 12 SECTION II distant places congregate. All communities partici and money are also kept in the pot to provide incen pate. tive to the competitors. After the process:on round the village is over the devotees take bath in the SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and Festivals jurnished by temple pond. This place is called Gopalakaluva. It Collector, Nizamabad is being celebrated for the past 25 years and a Brah min is the pujari. The local Hindus congregate. 22 Sirkonda - Situated at a distance of 18 miles from Indalwai Railway Station, 24 miles from A fair is held in connection with the festival Armur and 34 miles from Nizamabad. for 4 days near the temple in one area of 10 acres of land for the past 80 years. 4,000 local and The total population of the village is 1,755 and surrounding places like Karimnagar district congre- it is made up of the following communities; Caste . gate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, mirrors and Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Reddi, Kapu, Padma combs, pictures and photos, books, clothes, agricul sale, Chakali, Mangali, Vadrangi, Kammara, Kam tural implements and toys, etc., are sold. sali, Kummari, Gowda, Fishermen, Mudiraju, Medari, Meras, Golla and Kuruva; Scheduled Swings, gambling, lottery and dramas afford Castes (286) - Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The entertainment. chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul ture, agricultural labour and other traditional SOURCE: Sri T. RaJanna, Malipatel, Sirkonda occupations. 20. Ravutla - Situated at a distance of 18 miles Rameswaraswamy temple with (J Sivalingam is from Indalwai Railway Station. the place of worship in this village. The total population of the village is 1,092 and Sivaratri is celebrated for 6 days from .Magha it is made up of the following communities: Caste Bahula Dasami to Amavasya (] anuary-February). Every Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Munnuru Kapu, Golla, day abhishekam, mangalaharathi and reciting of Gundla, Tenugu, Padmasale, Chakali, Jangam, iHanthrapushpam are performed. Seva is performed in Kammara, Kummari, Avusula; Scheduled Castes the nights. The lillgam is placed on a decorated (163). The chief meanS of livelihood of the people vahanam like Garuda, elephant and Nandi and it is is agriculture. taken in a procession with traditional music played by the local instrumentalists around the village. Rajeswaraswamy temple with a sivalingam is the Offerings are made both in the form of cash only place of worship in this village or kind. The devotees take bath in the gundam (tank) and observe fasting andjagaralla. It is abo~t, 80 Gadimakula Rajeswaraswamy uthsavam is celebra years old festival celebrated under the supervISiOn ted for one day on Magha Suddha P21rnima (Janu of the Lanka Rameswaraswamy temple Committee. ary-February). The devotees take bath in the About 4.000 devotees local and from distant places koneru (tank) and observe jagarana. Archana, sevas congreg~te irrespective of caste or creed. Pujari is and pujas are performed. Cocoanuts are offered. a Brahmin. There is free feeding. It is being celebrated for the past 200 years. A Golla family used to worship this deity. After some days Thala Sapthaham is celebrated in Rajeswara· they forgot the deity and as a result, a member of swamy temple from Sravana Bahula Panchami to the family lost his eye-sight. Then he again wor Dwadasi (July-August), for 8 days. Every day shipped this deity with great devotion along with blwjalls mangalaharathzs and abhishekam are performed. his family and got back his eye-sight. Jangams are On the last day the sivalingamin a palanquin is taken the chief patrons and pujaris. 800 devotees local in a procession with indigenous instrumental music. and from the neighbouring villages of all communi In the streets small pots with curds are hung on ties participate. 'bamboo frames and the competitors jump up, brake the pot and drink the curd. Sometimes cocoanuts SOURCE: Sri Sadanand, Teacher, Ravutla KAMAREDDY TALUK '"~ 0 l;! ~ 0 ~ ~ ~ ~ ;: tll ~ ~ ~ ~ ;: ~ ~ ~ ~ § :t ~ ~ , v ,_ 1.1 i :r_~ ~ i Q ~ a ill ~ ~ ~ ~ t " ;:: ~ ~ u ! ~ Ii '"t •> i 'O! ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ :t :t i i' ;t > ~ 'Z " .0 ~!5 i ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ i :) '" ~. >' ~ ~ ·~ < ~ ~ ';;I ~ 0 ~ ~! i .. ~ '" ~ 0 ~ ~ i .~ . · ;;: i .. 'I: i ~ :0: ~ :t , ::: 0 .. ~ 'Ii ~. ~ 0" ~ ::l ~ • l:! ~ ;:: . ~ 0 ~ :z: ~ ~ ·Q ~o ~ ~ ~ ::l '" j '"~ ~ f · :! ~ ~ ~ ~ 3i ~ '" ~ 0 z 0 i 0 ~ i > )( ~ ~ !$ ;;; § u~ :i: ~ :; ~ ~ ~ ~ iii .. ~ .. .. ~ . .0 IIJ " ! I i I .l . ~ o ~ ~ ~ Z ~ c (; ~ ~ i :0:~ Ow ~~ ~ > ~ .. ~ 0 ;;! 0 ;i ~ ~2 0 ..=> ~ ~ !i 0 ®e~ I:: ~ Ie >: ~ :c " ::00 ): I ~ ~ l:! ~ ~ :0: i ~ ~ ~ I I I w ~ i ~ ! ~ ~ :!l <5" l ~ 0 ~ 2 ~ Q ~ ~ ~ ~ ::: ;:: ; ';; '" ;;: ::: ::;: 8 ~ - : - ~ - ~ - ..i - .. G 8 8 8 8 G 0 0 G) CD @) 0 @ 0 I 1- ; :;; ~ 0l!: Iii O;!! ~ 9 ~ iOi :J !' II) ,.J ..J a.: iW I- 0 ii 0 I- 0« KAMAREDDY TALUK 7'ti;alwaral- Situated at a distance of I mile from and the brass images in human form and Hasan E~ Hyderabad-Nogpur motor road and 4 miles Sharif darga are the places of worship. from Sirnapalle Railway Station. Sri Visweswara Ekanadhaswamy festival, is celebra The total population of the village is 1,304 and ted for 9 days from Phalguna Bahula Panchami to Trio it is made up of the following communities: Caste dasi (February-March) with pomps and pageantry. Hindus-Kapu, Kammara, Kummari, Chakali, Bhajans and sevas are performed during the festival. Padma Sale, Avusula, Bestha, Medari; Scheduled Rathothsavam is celebrated on Dasami and vasanthothsa Castes (134); and Muslims. The chief means vam on Ekadasi. This is being celebrated for the past of their livelihood is agriculture. 60 years and is of local importance. The Govern·· Krishnaswamy temple with His image in ment through the Endowment Dept. patronizes and hurr an form, Siva temple, Hanuman temple and a supervi ses the festival. About 1,000 devotees local mosque are the places of worship in the village. and from the neighbouring villages congregate irrespective of caste or creed. PuJari is a Brahmin.' Krishnaswam_y festival is celebrated for 2 days from Magha Suddha Purnima (January-February). Rathoth A fair is also held in this connection in which savam (chariot procession) is an important sidelight temporary shops ar(l~ opened by the local mer· of the festival. Offerings are made both in chants to sell the articles of domestic use toys and the form of cash and kind. This is being celebra handicrafts. ted for the past 3 years and is of local significance. The local devotees irrespective of caste or creed Sri Datta Jayanthi is celebrated for 3 da is from congregate and participate in the celebrations Margasira "iuddha Purnima to Bahula Vidiya (November wi th enthusiasm. Free feeding on a modest scale -December). Cocoanuts are offered. This is be is also arranged in this connection. ing celebrated for the past 70 years locally. There is service manyam attached to the temple. The chief A few temporary shops are opened near the patrons are Maratis. About 2,200 devotees local temple for selling glassware, mirrors, combs and and from the surrounding villages crmgregate. All handloom clothes. communities participate. There is also free feed mg. SOURCE: Sri C. Linga Reddy, Sarpanch, Kalwara! 2. Sadasivanagar - Situated on the Nagpur A fair is held in this connection in an area of '-Iyderabad highway at a distance of 3 miles from 10 acres of land belonging to the deity for the past Uppalwai Railway Station and 8 miles from Kama 70 years. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, pictures and reddy. photos, clothes and toys are sold in temporary shops. The total population of the village is 3,389 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste There are choultries. Harikathas, burrakathas and Hindus-Kapu, Padmasale, Vaisya, Muthracha, Bhagavathams afford entertainment to the visitors. Brahmin, Marati, Chakali, Mangali, Kamsali, SOURCE: 1. Sri J. Dharma Reddy, Teacher, Sadasiva Bestha, Tenugu and Balija; Scheduled Castes (655) nagar -Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultu 2. Sri B. Lakshminarayana, Teacher, Sada rallabour, trade and other traditional occupations. szvanagar Krishnaswamy temple with His image, Sri Vis 3. Ramareddy-Situated at a distance of 6 miles weswara Ekanadhaswamy temple with Sivalingam from Uppalwai Railway Stati'Jn. 14 SECTION III The total population of the village is 3,313 and A fair is held in this connection in a plot behind it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin the Rajeswaraswamy temple for the past 4 centu dus; Scheduled Castes (333). The chief means of ries. Thousands of people local and from the livelihood of the people is agriculture. neighbouring villages like Kamareddy, Lingapur, Komatipalle, Mothe, Nandiwada, etc., congregate. Ramachandraswamy is worshipped in this Eatables. utensils, lanterns, mirrors, combs, ayur place. vedic medicines, pictures, photos, books, cloth and clothes, agricultural implements and toys are sold. Srirama Navami, a festival held in honour of lord Rama is celebrated for 14 days from Chaitra Dramas, S\Nings, magic, gambling, lottery and Suddha Vidi)'a to Purnima (March-April) with great Bhagavathams afford entertainment to the visitors. pomp. 6,000 devotees local and from distant places congregate. All communities participate SOURCE: Sri A. Chandraiah, Teacher, Govt. Junior Basic in the festival School, Errapahad SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivais furmshed b)' 5· Rajampet - Situated at a 'distance of 2 miles Superintendent af Police, Nizamabad from Thalamadla Railway Station and 5 miles from Kamareddy. 350 years Lack this was the small 4. Errapahad-Situated at a distance of about 9 village under the name Arisathe. But 250 years miles from Kamareddy Railway Station. The back Rajamma Desai, the queen of Papannapet hillocks and the earth of this place are red in colour estate in Medak District established this village and so it is called "Errapahad" (erra in Tel ugu and hence it is called Rajammapet in her name. means red and pahad in Urdu means hill). Rajammapet came to be known as Raj:lmpet in the course of time. The total population of tWe village is 1,546 and it i~ made up of the following communities: Caste The total population of the village is 3,391 and Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Muthracha, it is made up of the following communi ties: Caste Viswa Brahmin, Kummari, Chakali, Mangali, Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Chakali, Mangali, Padmasale, Ediga, Jangam, Boya, Kasayi; Scheduled Kammara, Vadla; Scheduled Castes (322)-Madiga. Castes (324)-Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The The chief means of livelihood o'f the people is agri chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul culture. ture and other traditional occupations. The temples of Siva, Anjaneyaswamy, Pocha Sri Sangameswaraswamy temple at a distance mma and Venkateswaraswamy with the copper of one mile from the village and Rajeswaraswamy image in human form as that in Tirupati in Chittoor temple with the Lord's image in human form in district are the places of worship in this village. sitting posture holding Trisulam along with Ganga devi over His head and Parvathi by His side are the Lnrd Venkateswaraswamy festival is celebrated for 5 places of worship in this village. days from Vllisakha Suddha Dasami to Chaturdasi (April May). Festival arrangements are made in advance. Lord Rajeswaraswamy rathothsavam is celebrated On the third day the Lord is taken round the village for 3 days from Chaitra Suddha Navami to Ekadasi on Panna Vahanam to the accompaniment of music. (March-April). The Tatham (chariot) is decorated Rathothsavam is celebrated on the fifth day. This is with coloured papers and flowers 2 days in advance. being celebrated for the past 250 years. The chief Parvati kalyanam on Navami, homam, dhwajarohanam patrons are Vaishnavas. Devotees local and from on Dasami, ratharohanam and chakra thetrtham on 10 to 12 nearby villages congregate. Only Hindus Ekadasi are performed. Cocoanuts are offered. This participate. Pujari is a Vaishnava of Sriva thsasa is being celebrate4 for the past 4 centuries exten gotram with hereditary rights enjoying the Inam ding to a few neighbouring places. The villagers lands. Prasadam is distributed to all. are the patrons. About 4,000 devotees local and from the neighbouring villages of all castes congregate. A fair is held in this connection near the temple Pujari is Narahari Sastri a Brahmin of Bharadh for 5 days for the past 250 years. People of this wajasa gotram. Prasadam is distributed to all. and the nearby villages attend the fair. Eatables, KAMAREDDY TALUK 15 utensils, lanterns, mirrors and combs, pictures and ;].fter the sons or brothers of the rulers of Kama photos, ayurvedic medicines, cloth and clothes, reddy. toys of earth and wood from Hyderabad are brought and sold. The total population of the town is 10,318 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste During Ugadi decorated carts arc taken round Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Muthracha, the Pochamma temple, and animals are sacrificed. Gangaputra, Mangali, Chakali, Kammara, Kum Intoxicants are taken in feasting that follows. The mari, Kamsali, Vadrangi, Padmasale; Scheduled \-illage Patel and Patw.1ri are the chief patrons. Castes (1,397) - Mala, Madiga; Muslims and Christians. The chief means of livelihood of the Some devotees take river bath and observe fas people are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade ting and jagarana during Sivaratri. and other traditional occupations. SOURCE: Sri B. S Seetharama Rao, Gardener, Rajampet The temples of Venugopalaswamy, Vittales wara, Siva (Rajeswara), Anjaneya, Durgadevi and 6. SarampaBe - Situated at a distance of 4 fur of Pochamma are the places of worship. A big longs from the 70th milestone on Hyderabad-Nag mosque in the centre of the town sufficient for 200 pur bus route and 2 miles from Kamareddy. people to perform namaz at a time and Niranjan The total population of the village is 625 and it Shan Vali dllrga under a vata vruksham (Banyan tree) is made up of the following communities: Caste to the south of the town are the places of worship Hindus-Vaisya, Munnuru Kapu, Arekapu, Muth for Muslims. Niranjan Shah Vali was a Brahmin racha, Boya, Kummari ; Scheduled Castes (129) by birth who studied the religious works of Muslims Mala, Madiga. The chief means of livelihood of and attained bliss. He ended his life by entering the people are agr iculture and other trrrditional the samadhi here. At a distance of one mile from occupation s. the town there is a Mission compound adjoining the Nagpur road, in an area of a square furlong There is only one temple of Uradamma, the and. is used as the prayer hall by the Christians. village diety worshipped in this phice. Sri Venugopalaswamy uthsavam was being cele Uradamma jatara is celebrated for one day brated on a grand scale about hundred years back, according to the convenience of the villagers. There for about 10 d~ys from Sravana Bahula Asfttami (July is no fixed date for the celebration. Cocoanuts are August). Several incidents relating to the life of offered and fowls and goats are sacrificed to the Lord Krishna (Krishnaleelalu) were being enacted deity. Vows are fulfilled. Intoxicants are used in the streets The residents dressing themselves as during the uthsavam. This ancient festival is con Krishna, Radha and Gopikas, stealing milk, curds fined to this village only. The village Patel, Pat and butter and sarees of the bathing gopikas enter wari and other villagers collect donations for the tained the people. As some Muslims decapidated celebration of this jatma. Only local Hindus a black cow in the sanctum sanctorum under the partIcIpate. There is no specific pujari. Pambala influence of the then ruling Nizam, the helpless varu and the magicians who belong to Harijana Hindus left the temple without any puja. Lord community worship the deity. Hindus observe Krishna believed to have induced a rich Vaisya fast andjagarana during some of the Hindu festivals. merchant in his dream to construct a temple by installing His idol in it. In consultation with the SOURCE: Sri Balarama Sastry, Headmaster, Covt. Pri mary School, Sarampalle other mere hcmts of the place and with their support and co-operation he comtructed the present temple 7. Kamareddy - Taluk headquarters and a Rail ten yards from the mosque and installed the image way Station on Kachcguda-Manmad metre gauge of Lord Krishna in it. The ruined old temple is section of the South Central Railway. Kamareddy occupied by beggars. The chariot festival of Venu is a junction of important bus routes. Kamareddy gopalaswamy is celebrated b:;th on Asviyuja Suddha . is evidently named after a ruler. The villages in Dasmni (September-October) and on .4sviyuja Bahula the vicinity of this place, viz., Mallareddy, Rama Amavasyn. The car drawn by hundreds of devotees is reddy, Yellareddy, must have been named as such taken in procession thwugh all the streets to the 16 SECTIO:r-; III accompaniment of instrumental music, dance, fancy About 4,000 locd people of all communities and the dresses. This festival is of recent origin and confined neighbouring villages participate. Ayyavaru is to the Hindus of the place. About 1,000 Hindus the pujari. congrega te. A fair is held in this connection for two days NiraT/jen Shah Vali un is celebrated for a day in the temple compound for the past 2 centuries. on the 16th day of Ramjan (January-February). Thousands of people from this and the neighbour They worship the darga and offer Maluda (prepara ing village, within a radius of 10 miles congregate tion with fried and powdered wheat and sugar or and participate in the festival gusto. 35 shops to jaggery in the form of a powder). Both Hindus sell foodstufT~, utensils, lanterns, torches, mirrors and Muslims of this and the neighhouring places and comb~, pictures of Gods, bangles, etc., are take part in the festival. arranged by the tr2.ders of Kamarecldy. Ganapathi uthsavDm is cclebraterl here on a very elaborate Ecale from Bhadraprda S:tddha Chaviti for SO\JRCE: 1. S,·i r. Panduranga Sastry', Palwancha one day (August-September). All Hindu castes P. O. forming independent organisations C)l' each caste 2. &ztement of Fairs and Festivals furnished celebrate this festival with great joy and enthusi by Superintendent of Police, Nizamabad asm. Friends and relatives are i'nvitec1. Pllral1amS, harikalhas, dramas, bhajans and knlatams afford enter 9. Chukkapur-Situated at a distance of 11 miles tainment to the visitors. The last day on which the from Kamareddy Railway Station. idlos from all centres are taken for immersion cere The total popUlation of the vilLH;e is 1,469 and monyin profusely decorated motor vehicles attracts it is made up of the following communities: Caste thousands of people from the outside towns and Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Kammara, villages. Nearly;:;n amount of Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 7,000 Gowndla, Tenugu,' Golla, M~ra, Avusula, Tham is spent for the celebration and as such Kamareddy madi, Bestha, Chakali, Mangali; Scheduled Castes Ganapathothsavam has gained special popularity (212) - Mala, Madiga; and Dudekula. The chief in the distri ct. The colourful procession that means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. starts about four in the evening to be concluded only by the next morning. BhllJans, religious Lord Labhmi Narasimhaiswamy temple to the hymns and devotional songs are sun~ by the devo· west of the village in a forest with His rock image is tees who partici pate in the procession. the only place of worship in this village. SOURCE: Sr£ Rajaiah, Headmctter, Gout. Elementary Lord Lak,hmi Narasimhaswamy festival is cel·:; School, Kamareddy brated for 2 days from Phalgulla Bahula AmlJvasya to Chaitra Suddha Padyami (March-April). Cocoanuts, 8. DewanpaIJe - Situated at a distance of 8 miles flowers and fruits are offered to the Lord. This is from Kamareddy tov\'n and Railway Station. of ancient origin and extends to the surrounding The total population of the village is 546 and villages. Vaishnavas are the chief patrons. The Hindus, local and from the nearby villages congre it is made up of the following communities: Cas~e Hindus-Kapu, Padmas:lle, Vaisya, Tenugu; Sche gate. Pujari is a Vaishnava of Velpur got ram enjoy ing Inam land, duled Castes' (10). The chief means of their liveli hood are agriculture and agricultural lahour. SOURCE: Sri Venkata Ralr.ulu, Paf.wari, Village Karnam, Chukkapur Lord Mallanna temple ,vith His image in human form with a sword in one hand is the place 10. Jangarnpalle-Situated at a distance of 2 miles of worshi p in this village. to the west of Talamadla Railway Station and 7 miles from Kamareddy on the Nagpur-Hyderabad Mallmma (gutta) jr.tara is celebrated for two road. This vlllage was first established by a days i. e., on Margasira Bahula NavG1ni and Dasami Jangam and hence it was called Jangampalle. (November-December). This is being celebrated for the past 2 centuries and is confined to this and the The total population of the village is 2,707 and nearby villages. The villagers are the patrons. it is m~lde up of the following communities: Caste KAMAREDDY TALUK 17 Hindus-Motati Kapu, Pakanati Reddi, Brahmin, Bommaladevuni Pochamma jatara IS celebrated III Vaisya, Kurma, Golla, Kamsali, Kammara, Kum Alagham (January-February). Animals are sacri mari, Vadla, Bestha, Padmasale, Gangaputhra, ficed to the deity. Thi s festival is of ancient origin. Goundla, Muchracha, Chakali, Manglli ; Scheduled 600 devotees local and from the neighbouring Castes (472)-Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The villages congregate irrespective of caste or creed. chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul ture, agricultural labour and other traditional A few temporary shops are opened for selling occupa tions. eatables, toys, etc. One temple of Siva, 4 temples of Anjaneya, one During Ugadi, i e., on Chaitra Suddha Padyami of Gangadevi on the tank bund with Her stone all the devotees go in a procession with their decora image in human form and with the stone image:, ted carts around the- temples of Veeresaswamy, of Nandikeswara and Sivalingam, Muthyalamma, Pochamma, Mysamma and Hanuman. Nalla Pochamma are the places of worship in this village. The temple of Veeresaswamy has Inam of 6 acres dry land and 6 acres wet land. The pujari is Ganga jiltara is celebrated for one day on Pllshya a Brahmin. Bahula Amm1a<;ya (December-January) by Bestha'3. The devotees fast on that day and take the deity SOURCE: 1. Sri Lachireddy, Patwari, Kachapur in a procession. Bonalu are offered. This is being 2 Sri B. Balreddy, Teacher, Kachap':1r celebrated for the past 2 years. 1,600 devotees 3. Sri Narasimha Reddy, Police Patel, Kacha local and from the neighbouring villages congre pur gate. Only Hindus participate. 12. SanganathpalJe - Situated at a distance of 6 A few shops are opened temporarily during the miles from Talamadla Railway Station on the jatara by the local people. Eatables, etc., are sold· Kacheguda-Purna line of the South Central Rail· way and 10 miles from Kamareddy. Pochamma panduga is celebrated usually before marriages. Goats and rams are sacrificed and The total population of the place is 1,386 and intoxicants are taken in the feasting and rejoicing it is made up of the following communities: Caste that follow. Kapus are the patrons. Hindus ~ Vaisya, Kapu, Vadrangi, Kamsali, Kam SOURCE: Janab Abdul Wahab, Pancha)lat Officer, mara, Kummari, Padmasale, Gowndla, Mangali, Jangampalle Kurma; Scheduled Castes (197 )-Mala, Madiga ; Scheduled Tribes (5 )-The chief means of livelihood 11. Kachapur - Situated at a distance of 7 miles of the people are agriculture, trade and other tradi from Bikanur Railway Station and 12 miles from tional occupations. Kamareddy. The temple of Hanumotn with brick walls and The total population of the village is 1,870 and the temples of Uradamma, Mysamma and of Bom it is made up of the following communities: Caste maladcvuni Pochamma half a mile from the village Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Reddi, Kammara, near Bommaladevuni tank are the places of worship. Kummari, Padmasale, Goundla, Chakali, Mangali, Eurukula, Kurma, Golla, Bestha ; Scheduled Castes Bandla uthsavam is celebrated for a day on (461 )-Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. The chief Chaitra Suddha Padyami (March-April). The residents means of livelihood of the people are agriculture of the place decorate their carts and bullocks and and other traditional occupations. take them to the beat of drums round the temples of Hanuman, Mysamma and Pochamma. This is Veeresaswamy temple with the black stone a six hundred years old festival confined to the image, Bommaladevuni Pochamma situated by the place. There is no particular patron. The elders side of Bommaldevuni cheruvu (tank), Mysamma aEd of the place collect subscriptions, get the temples Hanuman temples are the places of worship in whitewashed and conduct the one day festival with this village. fanfare. 18 SECTION III Once a year Bommaladevuni Pochamma jatara is '14. Ambarpet--Situated at a distance of 5 miles celebrated on a convenient day. It commences in from Macharedd y and 17 miles from Kamaredd y. the morning and concludes by the evening. This fes~i val is of ancient origin confined to this and a few The total p:)pulation of the village is 1,541 and neighbouring villages. Small shops numbering a it is made up of the following communities: Caste score sell sweets, vessels, books, photos, toys of earth Hindus-Velama, Reddi, Vaisya, Kammara, Kum and wood. Lotteries, merry-go-rounds provide mari, Golla, Kurma, Boya, Telaga, Gowda, Kamsali, entertainment to the vi sitors during the 12 hours of etc.; Scheduled Castes (358)-Mala, Madiga, etc. the festival. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul ture and other traditional occupations. SOURCE: Sri Gopu Balaiah and Sri A. Lingam, Teachrrs, Sangameswaram, Kamareddy Taluk Venkateswarasw,'lmy temple situated 3 furlongs away from the village on the west and Mysamma 13. Domakonda-Situated at a distance of 2 miles image of It feet height to the north-west of the from Talamadla Railway Station, 4 miles to the village on a hillock are the places of worship. east of the 14th mile stone of the Nagpur-Hydera Venkatfswaraswamy festival is celebrated for one bad road and 12 miles from Kamareddy. da y on Pushy z Bahula Amavasya (December-January). The total population of the village is 6,508 and On that day the villagers in decorated bullock it is made up of the following communities: Caste carts go round the Venb.teswara temple first and Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Padmasale, then around the temples of Mysamm'l and Pocha Tenugu, Chakali, Mangali, Kammara, Kummtri; mma. Cocoanuts are offered, goats, fowls and rams Scheduled Castes (635); and Muslims. The chief are sacrificed to Mysamma. This is of ancient means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, origin and local significance. Pujas are performed trade and manufacturing of beedis. by the Kummaris. The temples of Lakshminarayanaswamy. Mar Fasting, feasting and Jagaranam are observed kandeya, Katla Kommu Malleswaraswamy, 11aha during the festive days. kali, Rama, Anjaneya and a mosque are the places SOURCE: Sri D. V. Rama Rao, Teacher, Ambarpet of worship in this vi llage. Katla Kommu Malleswaraswamy uthsa1Jam is 15. 1 ujalpur-Situated on the bank of Kudleru, celebrated for a day on Pushya Bahula Amavasya It miles from Bibipet, 16 miles from Talamadla \ (December-January). Cocoanuts and sugar are Railway Station and 20 miles from Kamareddy. offered. This is of ancient origin and confined to The total population of the village is 1,215 and the nearby villages. The festival is managed by it is made up of the following communities: Caste the temple committee. 1,000 devotees of this and Hindus-Reddi, Vaisya, Golla, Kurma, Tenugu, the surrounding villages participate irrespective of Gowda, Kamsali; Scheduled Castes (113)-Mala, caste or creed Pujari is a Brahmin with hereditary Mauiga, etc.; and Muslims. The chief means of rights. livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultural laluur and other traditional occupations. A fair is held in this connection for one day near the temple from ancient times. Eatables, The temples of Ramalingeswara in the form of mirrors and combs, pictures, photos, etc., are sold. a lingam. r-"ladla Ramanna and Venkateswaraswamy About 1,000 people congregate. in a hut are the places of worship in this village. Srirama kalyanothsavam is celebrated from Chaitra Suddha Vidiya to Triodasi (March-April) and Sri ;\1adla Ramanna uthsavam is celebrated for one Siva kalyan dhsavam from Magha Bahula Dasami to day, i. e., on Pushya Bahula Amavasya Dece-mber Amavasya (January-February) are the other festiv,lls. January). On the uthsavam day people take river bath and carry gandadee/Jam to the temple. Some SOURCE: Sri U. Narayana Sarma, Bi!! Collector, Doma observe fast. This is of local significance. Local konda people of all communities participate. Pujaris are KAMAREDDY TALUK 19 from Devathamma community with hereditary tank is one of the temples round this Chevooor. rights. According to another version Chevoor itsdf was renamed as Bibipet during the rule of the second SOURCE: Sri Gorrapati Chinna Madhusudhana Rao, Nizamalikhan when the tank was reconstructed. Tujalpur The date inscribed on the new maththadi (surplus veir) of the tank is 19th Zeeka 1245 Hizari and 16. Bibipeta-Situated at a distance of 10 miles tha t on the old maththadi is 1190 Hizari. By this from Hyderabad-Nagpur route, 14 rniies from it would appear that the tank is 190 years old. Talmadla Railway Station and 16 miles from Makareddy. The total population of the village is 5,132 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste This was believed to have been ruled by Hindus - Brahmin, Vaishnava, Vaisya, Kapu, Popannapeta SamsLhanadheeswaras who ruled over Padmasale, Kummari, Kammara, Vadrangi, Tenu Medak. There are some of their ruined forts and gu, Bindla; Scheduled Castes (701)-Mala, Madiga; ramparts even now. In the reign of the ~econd Muslims and Christians. The chief means of liveli Nizamaddin, Sadasivareddy Veeradiah was the hood of the people are agriculture, agricultural Samsthanadheeswar, who refused to pay kappam or labour, trade and other traditional occupations. tax to the Nizam. In consequence of this a Muslim The Handloom Society, blanket industry provide Sardar was sent to seize the Samsthanam, which he employment to many. did and ruled over it. A meagre amount of Rupees 98-14-9 P. A. was given to the family of Sadasiva The temples ofVenugopalaswamy, Nagareswara, reddy for maintenance. Till 1310 Fasli this was a Mallikarjuna, Omkareswara with the stone moola village in Ramayampet taluk in Medak district of vigrahams of the Lords copper and brass procession Bidar Suba. images, daruvahanams (wooden vehicles) and brass Garuda, Aswa, Nandi vahanams, Mahankali temple But according to some this was ruled by Desa with the image of Sakthi of 2! feet high, the temples pandyas who changed their residence to another of Maththadi Posamma, Muthyalamma, Nalla village from here due to some unknown reasons. Posamma, Yellamma, Renuka, Jamadagni, Bhu But there is no basis for this. lakshmamma, Pothalingadu, Markandeya, Nates This village is believed to have been named wara and Han uman are the other places of worship. after Chand Bibi, the ruler of Ahammadnagar 500 years back, or the foundation stone (sankhusthapana) A mosque called Darga Shareef, was built by of this village might have been laid by a lady equal Gulam Mohammad Hussain on the bank of the in courage to Chand Bibi. But this province was tank, in memory of Hazarath Nyamthulla Khadari not ruled either by Chand Bibi or by Bijapur Sul who waS one of the Fakirs that had gone from tan. Since this area belonged to the nearer Gol Aurangabad in 72 palanq uins about 500 years back. konda Nawabs and the Nizams, the village might Nyamthulla came here, lived in the hollow of the have been named after one of the Sultanas. Another trunk of a tamarind tree and used to offer his pra source is that there were three sisters called Bibi, yers there before the construction of the mosque. Thujyal and Malki, and that the eldest of them built the village and it was therefore called Bibipet. Mahankalamma jatara- is celebrated for a day on lvlagha Bahu(a Amavasya (January - February). Forty There is a tank of one square mile area with years back some Muslims entered the temple, did five channels which water the fields of seven impious deeds and even tried to beat the pujari who surrounding villages. It is 20 feet deep and there cursed them to die on the spot. The Muslims died arc iron shutters to the sluice which were closed vomitting blood. The uthsavam is said to be cele forever after the floods of 1947. There are two brated since then. Flowers, fruits, cocoanuts and Hanuman temples one on the tank buncI, and the bonams are offered. A procession of decorated other inside the tank with the images of Hanuman, carts is taken round the temple from 2 p. m. to 6 Nandi, etc., and this was recently excavated. On p. m. People possessed by the deity lead the proce the. basis of this it is said that here was a hamlet ssion reading dandakams. They are accompanied called Chevoor and the Hanuman temple inside the by Baindlas with bells, dappu, sannai, and a band 20 SECTION HI of other instrum~nts. This is ('ontined to the place. 17. Bhiknur - Situated at a distance of four fur The pa trons are Tenu gus. Local people of all com longs from Bhiknur Railway Station on Kacheguda muni ties participate. P;u"aris are Brahmins of Kataka -M:mmad line of South Central Railway. family of KQusika gotram: Apastlzambha Suthram with hereditary rights. The total population of the village is 5,751 and it is made up of several Hindu commUUltleS; A fair is held in this connection near the temple Scheduled Castes (943)-Mala and Macliga. The in the evening with a congregation of 3,000 from chicf means of their Ii velihood is agriculture and this and the nearby vilbges. other traditional occupations. Vrnugopalaswamy ~lthsavam is celebrated for three The temples of Siddhi Rameswarasw~my with days from 11th to 14th Pushyam (December-Janu residential quarters for devotees, Bhuvaneswari, aI'y). Dravida Vedadhyayanam and 1Iiargali Bho.gam Dattatreya, Bhairavaswamy, Kumaraswamy, Om are performed daily. Seva is performed on the third b.reswar and Anjaneya are the place.s of worship in day. Sivothsavam is celebrated in the evenings. This the village. is a seven year old festival confined to the village. This is celebrated by collecting subscriptions from A legend relating to the origin of the temple the villagers. Local people congregate. Pujaris are runs thus-Once there lived two saints nam,~d Vaishnavas ofParankusa family ofVyghanasa suthwm Siddagiri and Ramgiri in th;s place. They were with hereditary rights. Prasadam is distributed to doing penance for obtaining supernatural powers all. from Lord Siva. One day they found very near to Mallanna uthsauam is celebrated on 1hhasiva their place, a cow standing on an anthill and pouring ratri, .Magha Btlhllla Chathurdasi (January-February). her milk within it. They were surprised at that People take bath in the tank and observe fasting and incident. jagaram. All the Siva temples are decorated. Bandlu theeyuta is performed by Labhisetti Valsyas With their Yogic power they visualised the during the day and the night. underlying Sivalingam in the anthill and wanted to build a temple on that spot. Lord Siva gave All the Hanuman temples are decorated on a His darshan to Siddagiriswamy. I t is also said day in Vaisakham (April - May) and puja is per that Lord Siva gave a sacred bO,ok of verses written formed by Vaisyas. Panckam 2nd mangoes are offe on palmyra leaves which gave the clue about the red and distributed afterwards. The temples are actuallootion of the place where there was a hid decorated during Dcepavali also. den treaSure. They wanted to unearth the treasure and build a temple with it. One day when they Hazarath ]'{mntlzulla liTS is celebrated for three were going to a village at noon they found a male days from 25th Shah ban (December-January). child sleeping under a tree and a cobra covering Gandham on the first day and sweets on the second him with its hood from the rays of the sun. They are offered to the tomb of Hazarath. Th~ saint is approached the boy's parents who are working in worshipped with great devotion by the Muslims as the adjacent field and narrated the incident they he is believed to be a great soul helpful to others. have w'itnessed about their son and requested them This is confined to the vilbge. The patron is to give that boy to them. The parents reluctantly Mohammad Masud. Local pcople irrespective of agreed as the Rishis were asking for their son caste or creed congregate. Pujm i is Vahad Ali and gave him to them. They brought him up and Shah Khacbri enjoying Inam land of 38 kUlltas. when he came to the age of 20 years or so they There is free feeding on the third day. Muslims made him in charge of certain villages and send sacred and valuable gifts to Darga Shariff also gave him huge amount. He lived in a village (Thaburrak) . called Damakonda. Envied by his riches and popularity the local people wanted to kill the ·SOURCE: 1. Sri M. Ramachandra Reddy, B.A., B.Ed., Headmaster, Govt. High School, Bibipet Rishis who were instrumental for his superior 2. Sri Pcddi Hanmayya, Teacher, Govt. pOSItron. Then they dug a deep well in a village High School, Bibipet called Bhiknur and kept good number of swords, 3. Sri P. Rangachary, Haridas, Bibipet axes, 'etc. at the bottom and covered its mouth with KAMAREDDY TALUK 21 a blanket. Then they approached the Rishis and also come and participate. The fulfilment of vows stated that they had the instruction of Lord Sidcle by the devotees is done both in cash and kind. SW:lra to construct a temple for him at that pbce Brahmins of Mahanti sect are the hereditary pujaris and requested them to grace the occ:lsion. 'When enjoying Inam land of the temple. There is free they came there they were seated on the blanket and communal feeding on all days and the number spread on the well and after a few minutes they of poor feeding regularly vary "from 100 to 200 and have dragged the Llanket which made the Rishis to the maximum will be nearly 10 to 15 thousand on fall in the well which had swords, etc. at its bottom. the festival day. There are lodging fecilities for 100 After falling in the well the Rishis cursed them that to 150 people in the compound of the temple. There the hidden treasure when touched by them will is a strong belief about the infalliable efficicacy of turn into 'ish and sand and their families will be the Lord's blessings which cure all incurable disea ruined. \Vhen the boy in Damakonda came to ses including cancer. Further it is also believed know of this he went to the well and removed the that insane people will become Sane if they live for bodies of the Rishis and constructed tombs for 30 to 40 days in the temple and drink the water of them. He also built the temple. Strictly in accor a well situated in the compound of the temple and dance with the instruction of the Sic~dagiriswamy eat daily three leaves of Bhuchakragadda tree, a tree onl y one among hi~ desciples will remain as asceti c of rare medicinal ingredients. while the rest lead a married life. And even today the same principle is being maintained. Raja On the day of the uthsavam a fair is also held in Malla Reddy got the manlaparn constructed while the open area opposite to the temple. Temporary local devotees liberally contributed for the construc shops are opened by the merchants of Nizamabad ti.on of the compound wall and well. All the con and Kamareddy to sell all sundry goods like photos, struction took place some 400 years ago. sweets, etc. Idols ofBhuvaneswari, Veerabhadra, Omkares Sri Siddi Rameswaraswamy rathothsavam is celeLra wara, Kumaraswamy, Dattatreya, Visveswara and ted on the i~mediate Monday after Phalguna Purnima Bhairava were installed in separate small temples (February - March). The day, i.e., Monday, is the during 1953 and all are within the compound of the criteria but not the tithi or nakshtra for celebration temple. There is a temple of Hanuman outside the of the uthsavam. Siddi Rameswaraswamy temple. All communities including 11uslims take part SOURCE: Sri V. Radha Krishna, Statistical Assistant, in the uthsavam. Devotees from Maharashtra State Censlls Office YELLAREDDY TALUK fl' E It' • NIZAMABAD wI I fAIRS AND FESTJV AU . ! YELLAREDDY TALUK NIZ.~'YIABAD DISTRICT, A.P. 4 f I1ILff .. ~ Lrl I. , I ::: , 10 I(ILOMETI H If I' 18 MEOAK TALUK MEDAl( DIStRICT MEOAK DlSTFiICT o 9J SHfTf'-'l:i INDEX 1'1 o " LlNGMllff.T (OO£HV_ ANO I" s. NO. IWM. Of O£ITY AHO I'£I'JOC MM·»A ,"AT/AUf IANGAAfD(> 1011' NAM£ 01 VItVG£ OF'AlA Of! ffSTlVA< 0) 104 IMTHAPI 'CCHMUIA MU·/fI" (7) .4 CANOH-W tlATTATAfrASWNo1Y II! T>i/oNOVA oIMWW MASWNo1Y HOV«( CD 0 MMAV,J(SHM""'ALI.E H,toHUfMH 0 II, NACAAfOOll'£T '" MM·1f1 64 LlNCMfOOY'fT OOAU WNOA/'A 1I1{')GDlALW "/0 0 N.A6AREDOlPET l>l'. IN' MAl· •• 0 11 YtLlMtCCY SRI llAMA G OiINMI. IIALLA ffJCkA/~.\u' ...... '" MM.",• L-~------~~------~------.L__-----~J' 'II." "l~ Section IV YELLAREDDY TALUK IKandhari- Situated at a distance of 16 miles 3. Lin~areddypet-Situated at a distance of 6 fur \ll1 from Yellareddy, 18 miles from Kamareddy longs from Nizamsagar-Kamareddy bus route and Railway Station and 25 miles from Nizamabad. 2 miles from Yellareddy. This village was con structed in the name of Smt. Kalyanamma Desai. The total population of the village is 3,328 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste The total population of the village is 2,843 and Hindus - 11unnuru Kapu, Tenugu, Padmasale, it is made up of the following communities: Caste Vaisya, Marathi, Bestha, Kammara, Kummari, Hindus-Vaisya, Muthracha, Padmasale, Goundla, Vadla, Goundla; Scheduled Castes (442) - Mala, Kapu, Rangaraju, Vadla, Kammara, Kummari; Madiga; and Muslims. The chief means of liveli Scheduled Castes (W5)-Mala, Madiga; and Mus hood of the people are agriculture and agricultural lims, The chief means of livelihood of the people labour. is agriculture. Sri Krishna Mutt with the image of Dattathreya There are temples of Nagareswaraswamy, in human form wi th three heads, and the temples Vittaleswaraswamy, Pochamma with rock images of Eswara, Vittaleswara, Hanuman and Gandhari in human form, HanumClIl, Dora Dondappa Mutt Balaraja are the places of worship in this village. with His tomb in this village. Dattathreya jayanthi is celebrated for 4 days from Dora Dondappa festival is celebrated for a day on Margasira Suddha Chaturdasi to Bah~da Vidiya (Novem Phusya Bahula Chathurdasi (December-January). ber-December). On Purnima. evening rathothsavam is Cocoanuts and agarhathis arc offered. It is being celebrated. Devotees fulfil their vows. Jagaram celebrated for the past 40 years. 1,000 devotees is observed at family level. This festival is being local and from the neighbourin~ vi llages congre celebrated for the past 20 years but is of local gate. All communities participate. Pujari is significance. The Mahanubuva sect consisting of Ramanandu Maharaj. Maharashtrians and Andhras patronize the festival. Local devotees of all communit:es congregate. A fair is held in this connection for a day in Prasadam is distributed to all. which temporary shops are opened to sell sundry goods like eatables, photos, toys, etc SOURCE: Sri Panduranga Rao, Teacher, Gandhari Pochamma uthsavam is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha 2. Ramalakshmanpalle - Situated at a distance Prui_Yllmi (March-April) In Karthlkam (October- of about 10 miles from Yelbreddy and 13 miles November). VittalesW,iraJwam_y uthsavam takes place. from Kamareddy Railway Station. SOURCE: Sri Syed Abdul Ajeem, Teacher, Primary School, . The total population of the village is 126 and it Lingared dy Pf t is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; Scheduled Castes (14). The chief means of liveli 4. Yellareddy-It is the headquarters of the taluk hood of the people is agriculture. and is situated at a distance of 26 miles from Kama Hanuman puja is performed in Chaitram (March reddy Railway Station. April) for 2· days. This is of local significance. About 500 local people of all communities partici The total population of the Wwn is 5,435 and pate. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Sudra, etc.; Scheduled SOURCE: Statement of Fairs ond Festivals furnished Ca3tes (483); Muslims and Christians. The chief by Collector, Nizamabad means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, 24 SECTION IV agricultural labour, trade and other traditional Prabhuswamy jatara takes place in Phalgllnam occupations. (February-March) for 15 days, preparations being made two or three days in advance. Cocoanuts and Four temples of Hanuman, two of Eswara, one (dakshina) cash are offered by the devotees to the Lord each of Gopalakrishna and R;lma, a mosque and a in fulfilment of their desires. This is being celebra church are the places of worship in this village. ted for the past hundred years and extends to the nearby villages-Padmasali's arc the patrons. 5,000 Sri Rama rathothsavam is celebrated for 15 days people irrespective of caste or creed local and from from Chaitra Suddha Padyami (March-April). Prepa the neighbouring villages congregate. Prasadam is rations are being made 15 days in advance. From distributed to all. Padyami to N(/vami Srirama NOl'arathrothsavams are celebrated. Kalyanothsavam is performed 011 the A fair ish dd In this connection for 15 days ninethda y and rathothsavam takes pIa ce on PurniJlla. with 20 shops of t:atables, utensils, lanterns, toilet Before celebrating the rathothsavam two maunds of goods, clothes, agricultural implements and toys. rice which is cooked and coloured is offered to Gnd Dramas, bllrrakatizas, kotatams, swinging boards, circus, Devotees fulfil their vows. Cando Deepams and lotteries, etc., are the items of entertainment. There cocoanuts are offered to the Lord. Oil bath, wearing is free feeding. new clothes, preparation of pastries. fasting and jagarana are the domestic observances. This is being SOURCE: Sri P. B. Srini:Jasa Rao, Ttacher, Panchayat celebrated for the past two centuries and is confined Samithi, Shetpal'e to the neighbouring tal uks. Vaisyas are t he pat rons. 10,000 Hindus local and from the neighbou. 6. Lingampet - Situated at a distance of about 8 ring villages congregate. PuJari is a Brahmin of miles from Yellareddy and 15 miles from Kama Harithasa gotram. Prasadom i, distributed to all. The reddy Railway Station. temple servants are fed free. The total population of the village is, 4,478 and it is made up of the follwing communities: Caste A fair is held for 15 days from Chaitra Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Sale, Kapu; Scheduled Suddha Purnima to Bahula Amavasya (March-April) Castes (669); and Muslims. The chief means of before the temple in an area of 20 acres. livelihood of the people are agriculture and trade. 10,000 people congrgate. Eatables, utensils, torches, toilet goods, Ayurvedic medicines, pictures, photos, Village deity Mathadi Pochamma is worshipped books, agricultural implements and toys are sold. in this place. Dramas and circus are some of the popular enter· tainments for visitors during the festival. klathadi Pochamma jatara is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Pad)iami (March-April). Devotees SOURCE: Sri K. Canapati, Teacher, Zilla Parishad High fulfil their vows by s::icrificing animals and fowls to School, Yellareddy the deity. Toddy is also off~red to the deity. Feast ing and rejoicing follow. This festival is being 5. Shetpalle - Situated at a distance of 8 miles celebrated for the past II years. Local people of from Yellarcddy and 16 miles from Kamareddy all communities take part in it. Kapus are the Railwa y Station. pujaris. The tot31 population of the village is 1,159 and SOURCE: Sri Padma Vittal, Teacher, Liil,gampet it is made up of the following communities: C::lste Hindus - Kapu, Tenugu, Kummari, Kammara, 7. Shalpalle Sangareddi - Situated at a distance Vadrangi; Scheduled Castes (287 J-Mala, ?vIadiga; of 11 miles from Yellareddy. and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture and other traditional The total population of the village is 3,144 and callings. it is made up of the following comm unities: Caste Hindus-Brahmin, Bhatraju, Vaisya, Kapu, Padma Prabhuswamy temple outside the village with sale, Muthracha, Vadla, Kammara, Kamsali; His idol in the form of a Sivalingam is the only Scheduled Castes (283)-Mala, Madiga; Schl'!duled place of worship in this village. Tribes (11); and IvIuslims. The chief means of YELLAREDDY TALUK 25 livelihood of the people are agriculture and other 9. Nagareddipet - Situated at a distance of 10 traditional occupations. miles from Yellareddy on Yellareddy-Medak road, 24 miles from Akanpet Railway Station and 36 miles Two temples of Anjaneya, one temple of from Nizamabad Railway Station. Gopalpet is the Mathadi Pochamma on the outskirts of the village hamlet of this village. with Her stone image in human form and a mosque are the places of worship in this village. In the past one Sri J agannadha Rao, a Kul· karni (Karnam) constructed this village in memory Mathadi Pochamma jatara is celebrated for 3 of his father Gopalarao. A tank by the side of the days from Chaitra Suddha Panchami to Saptdmi IMarch temple of Gopalaswamy was dug by Jagannadha April). Arrangements are made few days in R ao a nd it is callt:d J aggacheruvu. Subsequently advance. On the third day ratham (chariot) is pre t he people shifted to Chinnur and Nagareddipet pared and decorated. On Panchami and Shashti the one mile away from Gopalpet which became un devotees visit the temple and aradhana is performed. inhabited. Again in 1335 Fasli when some villages On the third day on Saptami, the deity is taken were submerged under the Nizamsagar a few people round the temple. Fowls and goats are sacrificed cleared the forest and settled here, which became to the deity. This festival is being celebrated for the hamlet of Nagareddipet. Jaggacheruvu and the past 6· years in the belief that it would prevent Gopalaswamy temples are howev,er still in eXIS the outbreak of epidemics like small pox and tence. damage to crops by pests. This festival is extended to nearby villages also. The village heads are the The total populatio~fthe village is 2,776 apd patrons. About 300 people of all communities con it is made up of several commullities of Caste.;:I1~ gregate. Muthracha is the pujari with hereditary d us; Sc heduled Castes (!.iSS}; ~nd MusliIl;l.s>:/ifhe rights. Prasadam is distributed to all. chief means of livelihood. of t~ peop,ht \ is agricul- ture. A fair is held in connection with this festival for 3 days. Eatables, utensils, torches, pictures The temple of Nalla Pochamma, the village and photos are sold. About 300 people of all deity built of marble stone in an area of 8sq. yards communities congregate. Bhagavatams and bhajans with Her stone image in human form and in sitting entertain the visitors. posture, Anjaneya temple and Gopalaswamy temple are the places of worship in the village. Nalla SOURCE: Sri Bhiraiah, Teacher, Shetpalte Sang'1reddy Pochamma is believed to be a powerful deity. In 1297 Fasli when Gopalpet was uninhabited some 8. Thandur-Situated at' a distance of about 7 Kapus went there for cultivation. It is said that miles from Yellareddy and 20 miles from Akanpet in the process of tilling the lands the rock image of Railway Station. Nalla Pochamma was unearthed and that a person got possessed of the deity revealed the image to be The total population of the village is 2,462 and of Nalla Pochamma and asked them to instal it. It it is made up of several sub-communities of Caste was done accordingly. The story goes that a person Hindus; Scheduled Castes (516). The chief means who stole one hundred and sixteen rupees buried of livelihood of the people is agriculture. under the image suffered from cholera and died. Rameswaraswamy is worshipped in this place. The villagers who came to know about it got back the amount and kept it under the image again. Rameswaraswamy festival is celeb:ated in Chaitram (March - April) for two days. It extends to the Nalla Pochamma jatara is celebrated f?r 5 days nearby villages also. 1,000 people local and from from Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Panchami (March the surrounding villages congregate and participate April) with gaiety or mirth. On Padyami 50 to 100 in the festival with great enthusiasm. All com carts are taken round the temple in pradakshinam munities take part in it. on Vidiya devotees fulfil their vows, offer the first hair of their children (puttu ventrukalu) and perform SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivalsfurni5hed by deeparadhana. On Tadiya after sacrificing a ram on District Health Officer, Nizamabad the heap of rice formed as kumbham before the 26 SECTIO~ IV deity's ratham (car) it is drawn at 16.00 hours. SOURCE: 1. Sri P. Anjaiah, Headmaster, lvliddle Rams, goats and fowls' are sacrificed to the deity. School, Nagareddy This is being celebrated from 1297 Fasli and is 2. Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished confined to the surrounding villages within a radius by District Health OJJlcer, Nizamabad of 10 miles' The villagers patronize the festival. About 3,000 devotees of all communities local and 10. Chinnur-Situated at a distance of about 9 from the neighbouring villages congregate. Mekala miles from Yellareddy and 18 miles from Akanpet Pochaiah, a Thenugu and Gondle Balaiah, a Railway Station. Muthracha are the pujaris with hereditary rights. The total population of the village is 1,651 and A fair is held in this connection since 1297 it is made up of several communities of Caste Fasli for 5 days. About 3,000 people congregate. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (425). The chief means Eatables, utensils, torches, toilet goods, books, pic of livelihood of the people is agriculture. tures, photos, c_lothes, agricultural implements, Nalla Pochamma jatara is celebrated from Chaitra toys, fans and bangles are sold in the temporary Suddha Padyami to Tadiya (March-April) for 3 days. stalls erected for the purpose. Community enter This festival is confined to the nearby villages. tainment in the form of swinging boards, dramas People of all communities local and from the nearby and circus is an interesting sidelight. villages congregate and celebrate the festival with mirth and enthusiasm. In Gopalpet, hamlet of Nagareddypet, Pocha mma jatara is celebrated for 3 days locally. About SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by 1,000 local people of all communities congregate . District Health Officer, Nizamabad ... , ... ~, BANSWADA TALUK FAIRS AND fESTIVALS BANSW ADA T ALUK NlZAMABAD D!HJ(ICT, A. 1', , • NJZAMABAC TAL-UK .r--'+ , ry:L.-- - ¥= INDEX J~'IU lQ /'IAMU JVtT.iIl}G ItIYI.AIWo RAiESwAMSW.4ffiY JtI~r . Atr. IIIIt1WA vmm.£SwAAASWAAlY jUlIf.. ' (dIIIZAI'UR ANJNlEYASWIHIY NlJNlEYASWw..y.... - (HINCHDU ...... /'IACHPAlJ.t iAATHADJ J>OCHAMJOA,.,..- MAIW1I 111'·"'" 1'EDDIl COUIWtMl RMlACHANDRASWMlY FOCHA.WIIA • -.... YEI...LAREDDY ANO eHULAKSHNIIPEVI IMNIIAIPfJ VENlCAn5WAAJSWMlY.-. TALUK fU·_ 5DIitESHW.IA VENKATfS~AAJSWMlr.... - OfSAlPEl OURKI -. ..,. WAlItlNM;A!. _1M G\IHl)AN..... U !IWCIWJoIJAI. SItlMMA IWlSWADA IlETliAlASWMI Y_.m IMTrlADl i'OOilMMA MM·/lifA DU 0/»4 THIIthIAL»IIR NAil ... FOCHNNM...... Pf./lDA ItWfUR M-.v.N£rASWNdY.... KATEPN.1.£ NoIJN>lEYASWAMY-",.- NlJNoIEYISWw..y ~,..*r MNtESWAMSWAAlY /Jt.Y ."'" I'IAUA rccHA~...... - ..... NARAYANKHEO TALUK V~WN(t1 MWAk. orsTRK::T ~F!)(f' ANJANfYASWAMY ..... ItA? - TA.l..UX 8CV1'<:IA""" _- STAT6HIO/HWA'" --- OTHEff 11'0"'05 @ T'ALUJ( H£.oU)QVART(:". ...."" ICAN1.KA ()URG"""" 0. "'I>. .. AGE Wlrl-! a£ItJAi_ /\'\1MB .... NO."'" ~tqlV£" Section V BANSWADA TALUK f1Thandur - Situated at a distance of about 7 m~les Sri Sangameswara festival is celebrated from \,U- from Bodhan Railway Station and 17 mIles Chai!ra Suddha Dasami to Dwadasi (March-April) for Banswada. 3 days. Bhajans are performed and agnigundam (fire pit)is arranged. Cocoanuts are offered to the The total population of the village is 2,670 and Lord. This is being celebrated for the past 30 years. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Near by villagers also participate in the festival. Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Motadi Kapu, etc.; 700 people of all communities congregate. Bha Scheduled Castes (356) - Adi Andhra, etc.; and draiah, a jangam is the pujari. Free feeding is Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the arranged to the visitors. people are agriculture, agricultural labour and other traditional occupations. A fair is held for 2 days in this connection on the hillock itself. A few shops are opened in this Yellamma temple and Anjaneyaswamy temple connection and sundry articles like eatables, food are the places of worship in this village. stuffs, toys etc., are sold. Wrestling competitions, afford entertainment to the visitors. Anjaneyaswamyjayanti is celebrated for a day on Chaitra Suddha Purnima (March-April). It is being SOURCE: Sri lvI. Narayanareddy, Teacher, Kodaggal celebrated for the past 4 years. About 3,000 devotees Kalan local and from the nearby villages congregate irres pective of caste or creed. Brahmins and Vaisyas 3. Jalalpur - Si tuated at a distance of about 6 are the patrons. Prasadam is distributed to all. miles from Banswada-Bodhan Road. A fair is held in this connection near the temple The total population of the village is 1,382 and of Yellamma. A few shops are opened by the mer it is made up of the following communities: Caste chants from Bodhan, Nizamabad, etc. and articles Hindus - Perika, Kapu"Gonndla, Vadde, Tenugu, of popular interest like eatables, utensils, pictures, etc.; Scheduled Castes (96); and Muslims. The books, clothes and toys are sold. chief means of livelihood of the people is agri culture. Fastings are observed during Ashadha Suddha Ekadasi (June-July), Kertika Suddha Ekadasi (Octo Syed Sadullah and Anjaneyaswamy are wor ber-November) and Magha Bahula Chaturdasi (Janu shipped. ary-February) . Syed Sadullah urs is celebrated for one day on SOURCE: Sri Narsinga Rao, Malipatel, Chandur Shahban (December-January). Goats and sheep 2. Karegaon - Situated at a distance of 19 miles are sacrificed. This is being celebrated for the past from Banswada. ten years but extended to the neighbouring villages. Muslims are the patrons. 10,000 people of all The total population of the village is 285 and it comm unities from this and the neighbouring villages is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; congregate. Muslims are the pujaris. Scheduled Castes (25); and Muslims. The chief meanS of livelihood of the people are agriculture A fair is held in this connection for a day in and agricultural labour. 100 acres of Government land for the past I °years. 10,000 people from villages within a radius of 500 Anjaneyaswamy image in a small temple and miles congregate. People reach the place by carts Sangameswaraswamy temple on a nearby hillock and buses. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, torches, com are the pla{;es of worship in this village. bs and mirrors and other fancy goods, ayurvedic 28 SECTION V medicines, bangles and belts are sold. There The total population of the village is 1,147 and are hotels to give accommodation to the visitors. it is made up of the following communities: Caste There is free feeding for one day. Hindus -;- Reddy, Tenugu, Golla, Bestha, etc.; Scheduled Castes (138) - Mala, Madiga, etc. The Anjane)'aswamy jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul Suddha Purnima (March-April). This is of local ture and agricultural labour. significance. Local Hindus participate. Pujari is a Brahmin. The stone image of Jl,1aruti (Anjaneyaswamy) is worshipped in this place. Hindus observe fastings during Ashadha Suddha Ekadasi (J une-July), Kartika Suddha Ekadasi (October-· J.,1aruli ja)'anfi is celebrated on the last day of November) and Magha Sivaratri (January-February). Sravanam (July-August). Devotees discharge their SOURCE: Sri Gangareddy, Patwari, Jalalpur vows. Cocoanuts, fried bengalgram and jaggery are offered. This is an ancient local festival. Local 4. Bommandevpalle - Situated at a distance of 3 people of all communities participate. A Brahmin miles from Banswada-Bodhan road, a bout 6 miles is the pujari. There is free feeding to all. from Banswada and 12 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. On Chaltra Suddha Padyami in connection with the Telugu New Year's day bandla jatara (cart The total population of the village is 2,095 and procession) is held in the name of Mathadi Pocha it is made up of the following communities: Caste mma. Mathadi Pochamma, a female deity associa Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Reddy, Goundla, Padma ted with an irrigation tank and believed to be sale, Vadde etc.; Scheduled Castes (333)-Mala, responsible for the condition of the crops under Madiga; and Muslims. The~chiefmeans of livelihood the tank. of the people are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade and other traditional occupations. Free feeding is arranged In Sravanam (July August). Venkateswara image in a hou~e and Allamaha Prabhu image in human form on a boulder are SOURCE: Sri Bhumanlla, Police Patel, Namli worshipped. 6. Mylaram - Situated at a distance of 6 furlongs Allamaha Prabhu jatara is celebrated with from Banswada-Bodhan road, about 8 miles from fanfare for 16 days from Pushya Bahula Tariiya Banswada and 13 miles from Bodhan Railway (December-January) to Magha Suddha Tadiya (J anu Station. ary-February). Devotees discharge their vows. Sweets are offered. Intoxicants are used. Fasting TI;.' total population of the village is 1,442 and is observed on Maha Sivaratri This is an ancient it is made up of the following communities: Caste festival confined to a few distant parts. Jangam Hindus - Kapu, Reddi, etc.; Scheduled Castes Basulingaiah is the patron. A!Jout 3,000 devotees (181) - Mala, Madiga, etc. The chief means of irrespective of caste and creed, local and from a livelihood of the people is agriculture. few distant places congregate. Mala J angam is the plljari. Venkateswaraswamy temple and a mutt of Rajeswaraswamy are the places of worship. A fair is held in this connection. 3,000 people congregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, torches, Lord RqjeswarasU'amy sevas are conducted in mirrors and combs, photos, books, clothes toys and Sravallam (July-August). It i~ customary to worship fancy goods are sold. the lord with vermilion turmeric, ocimum leaves etc. in discharge of the vows taken by the devotees. SOURCE: Sri Pothu Reddy, Patwari, Bommalldevpalle Devotees offer cocoanuts to the Lord. The ceremo nies are of local significance. Sale Posaiah is the 5. NamB - Situated at a distance of 4 furlongs patron. Local people participate. Fasting is observed from Nizamabad-Nizamsagar road. on Ashadha Suddha Ekadasi (june-July) and Magha BANSWADA TALUK 29 Bahula Chaturdasi Maha Sivaratri (j anuary-Febru The total population of the village is 1,591 and ary). it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Kuruba, Vanjari, SOURCE: Sri Narayana Gowd, Panchayat 0 fficer, Mylaram Munnuru Kapu, Muthracha, Bestha, Vadla, Kam mara, Chakali, Mangali, Kummari, Kamsali, 7. Birkur-Situated at a distance of 5 miles from Lingayat, Rajaputra, Marwadi, Kamma, etc.; Sche Nasurullabad, 7 miles from Palangal and 10 miles duled Castes (119) - Mala, Madiga, etc.; and from Banswada. Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultural labour and During the reign of Rajputs this was known as other traditional occupations. Virukur and the present name 'Birkur' appears to be a modified form of V irukur. Sri Anjaneyaswamy temple situated in a garden with His image and Pochamma temple are the The total population of the village is 3,894 and places of worship. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus-Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Kapu, Muth Sivaratri is celebrated from Magha Bahula raeha, Golla, Bestha, etc.: Scheduled Castes (500) Chaturdasi (January-February) to Phalguna Suddha -Mala, Madiga, etc.; and Muslims. The chief Padyami (February - March) for 3 days. Cocoa means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. nuts are offered to the Lord. This is an ancient festival confined to this and a f~w neighbouring The temples of Vithaleswaraswamy with the villages. The village pancha yat and the temple images of the Lord and His consort Rukmabai, commi.ttee patronize the uthsavam. 2,000 people of Venkateswaraswamy, Anjaneya, :Manikya Prabhu, all communi.ties from this and neighbouring villages Pochamma and Gajalakshmamma, and Peer Sama congregate. A Brahmin is the pujari. Prasadam is yuddin Darga are the places of worship is this distributed and there is free feeding. village. Vtthallswaraswamy festival is celebrated with great A fair is held in this connection infront of Anja enthusiasm from Ashadha Suddha Ekadasi to Purnima neya temple in the panchayat field of 200 square (June-July) for 5 days from Kartika Sdddha Ekadasi yards. This is being held from the ancient times. to Purnima (October-November). Sevas are perfor 2,000 people of all communities from this and the med and processions are held. Fasting is observed surrounding villages congregate. Eatables, earthen at family level. The festival is being held for the utensils, combs, mirrors and dothes, are sold by past hundred years, but is of local significance. trader!! from the surrounding villages. Boarding Local Hindus participate. A Brahmin is the pujari. and lodging facilities are also arranged for the Prasadam and theertham are distributed to all and pilgri.ms. Bhagavathams, bhaJans entertain the there is free feeding. visitors. Near the Anjaneyaswamy temple a jatara SOURCE: Sri B. Sayanna, Sarpanch, A1irJapur (fair) is held for 3 days from Chaitra Suddha Purnima (March- '\pril), and the car is dragged. About 9. Chincholi - Situated on the 29th mile of 5,000 people of all communities from the surroun the Banswada-Nizamabad road at a distance of ding villages, congregate. Eatables, utensils, 7 miles from Banswada and 20 miles from Bodhan torches, toilet goods, books, photos, pictures, Railway Station. clothes, agricultural implements, toys, etc., are sold. Street dramas, kolatams and merry-go-rounds, The total population of the village is 523 and en tertain the visitors.. Carts, buses and camels are it is made up of the following communities: Caste the means of conveyance. Hindus - Jangam, Munnuru Kapu, Perika, Muth raeha, Tenugu, Ediga, Chakali, Mangali, Kurma, SOURCE: S,i Jagannatha Rao, Sarpanch, Birkur etc.; Scheduled Castes (118); and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul 8. .Mirzapur - Situated on the NachutJalli eture, agricultural labour and other traditional Damarancha bus road and 7 miles from Banswada. occupations. 30 SECTION V Anjaneyaswamy temple with four stone pillars The stone image of Maruti is worshipped in (car shed: is the place of worship in this village. this village. Anjaneyoswamy aradhana is celebrated for seven Maruti aradlzana is celebrated m Sravanam days from Clzaitra Bahula Panchami (March - April), (July· August) for one day. Cocoanuts, fried Rudrabhishekam, mc.nthrapushpam, mangalaharti (flame bengal gram and jaggery are offered in discharge of of prosperity) and decoration of the deity with their vows by the devotees This is an ancient garlands and flowers in the morning. Ramayana local festival.· Local people of all communities parayana (recitation) and offering of naivedyam in the partlClpate. A Brahmin is the pujari. There is afternoon and kirthanas, annadanam (free distribu free feeding for all. tion of food) and Akhanda Nama Smarana (chanting the deity'S name without break) in the night are SOURCE: Sri Lakshmaiah, Mali Patel, Kamshetpalle the daily rituals for 6 days. On the seventh day 12. Peddagouraram - Situated at a distance of the festival is concluded with a procession and 26 miles from Nizamabad. Gopalakalva (vasanthothsavam). On the last day cocoanuts, incense and camphor are offered. Dur The total population of the village is 957 and ing Sravanam (July - Angust) bhajan is performed in it is made up of the following communities: Caste the evening in the temple. This is being celebra Hindus; Scheduled Castes (114). The chief means ted for the past 15 years and is of Ipcal signifinnce. of livelihood of the people is agriculture. The villagers patronize the festival. All local communities participate. A Brahmin of Narahari Ramachandraswamy uthsavam is celebrated for Bhatla family is the pujari with hereditary rights. 15 days in Chaitram (March ·April). This festival There is free feeding. is of local significance. About 1,500 local Hindus participate in it. SOURCE: Sri Rajanna, Clerk, Malikothvali, Chincholi SOURCE: Slatement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by 10. NacbpaUe - Situated at a distance of 6 miles Collector, Nizamabad from Banswada Railway Station. 13. Konapur - Situated at a distance of about 6 The total population of the village is 1,132 and miles from Banswada and 24 miles from Bodhan it is made up of the following communities of Caste Railway Station. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (271). The chief means The total population of the village is 1,237 and of livelihood of the people is agriculture. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Brahmin, Kapu, Tenugu, Golla, Sale, The village deity Mathadi Pochamma is wor Kummari,Kammara, Vadla, Vaisya, etc.; Scheduled shipped. Castes (129) - Mala, Madiga, etc.; and Muslims. The village deity Mathadi Pochamma festival is The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. celebrated in Chaitram (March - April) for one day. This is a local festival in which about 200 Village deities Pochamma, Mysamma and people of all communities participate. Bhulakshmidevi are worshipped. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Bandla teertham (cart procession) takes place for Collector, Nizamabad 4 days from Chaitra Bahula Padyamito Chaviti (March April) in the name of the village deities. Goats and 11. Kamshetpalle - Situated by the side of the sheeps are sacrificed to Pochamma and Bhulakshmi Nizamabad-Nizamsagar road. Devi. This is an ancient festival confined to the nearby villages. 1,000 devotees of all communities The total population of the village is 434 and congregate. Chakalis, and Munnuru Kapus are the i't is made up of the following communities: Caste puJaris for Pochamma, Mysamma and Bhulakshmi Hindus-Tenugu, Kamma, etc.; Scheduled Castes devi respectively. (II); and Muslims and Christians. The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. SOURCE: Sri Venkata Reddy, Konapur BANSWADA TALUK 31 14 Imbrahimpet - Situated at a distance of 30 etc.; Scheduled Castes (170) - Mala, Madiga, and miles from Nizamabad. Mochi; and Muslims. The chief means of liveli hood of the people is agriculture. The total population of the village is 1,940 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste The temples of Maruti with the image of Hindus; Scheduled Castes (253) etc. The chief Anjaneya, Vittaleswara, Rama, Eswara and Peerla means of livelihood of the peope is agriculture. Clzavidi are the places of worship here. Village deities Pochamma, Bhulakshmi and Vooradamma VenkateswaraswmyJestival is celebrated on Phalguna are also worshipped in this village. Suddha Navami (Fchuary-March) for a day. This festival is of local significance and all communities Sri Maruti rathothsavam takes place for 7 days participate. from Clzflitra Suddha Navami to Purnima (March-April). Image of the Lord is taken out in a procession daily SOURCE: List oj Ursues, Alelas, Jataras, etc., Ul and on Purnima ratlzothsavam is celebrated. This H. E. H. Ni;:am's Dominions festival is being celebrated for the past 70 years and extended to the neighbouring villages. Hindus ) 5. Someshwar - Situated at a distance of 2 patronize the festival. Hindus local and from the miles from Banswada and 32 miles from Janakampet Railway Station. neighbouring villages congregate. A Brahmin is the pujari. The total population of the village is 428 and it is made up of the following communities; Caste A fair is held in this connection for two days. Temporary shops are opened for the occasion by Hindus - Reddi, Muthracha, Boya, Kammara, local merchants and traders from Banswada. Vaisya, etc.; Scheduled Castes (42) - Mala, etc.; Eatables, utensils, lanterns, torches, toilet goods, and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the clothes, agricultural implements and toys are sold. people is agriculture. Blzagavatam and blzajans entertain the congregation. The temples of Venkateswara with His brass Free feeding is an important feature of the cele image, Rama, Anjaneyaswamy and Moulali Darga brations. with the bronze and brass panjas are the places of SOURCE: Sri Vittal Rao, Karnam, Desaipet worship in this village. 17. Situated at a distance of 24 miles Venkateswaraswamy 'festival is celebrated for 2 Durki - from Janakampet Railway Station. days on Phalguna Bahula Chaturdasi and Amauasya (February-March). Cocoanuts are offered to the The total population of the village is 2,516 and deity. This is being celebrated for the past 50 it is made up of several communities of Caste years locally. Local Hindus participate. Pujari is Hindus; Scheduled Castes (264). The chief means a Brahmin. of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Srirama ratlzothsauam is also celebrated on Clzaitra Mysamma jatara is celebrated In Chaitram Suddha Nauami (March-April). A Muthracha is the (March-April) for two days. This festival is of pujari. This festival is being celebrated for the local significance. About 1,200 local Hindus partici past 2 years. pate in it. SOURCE: Sri Vittal Rao, Karnam, Someswaram SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and FestivalsJurnislzed by Collector, Nizamabad 16. Desaipet- Situated at a distance of 3 miles from Banswada and 28 miles from Nizamabad. 18. Wajidnagar-Situated at a distance of 6 miles from Banswada-Bichkunda motor route and 7 miles The total population of the village is 1,647 and from Banswada. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Lingayat, Padmasale, The total population of the village is 1,295 and Patwari, Viswabrahmin, Munnuru Kapu, Chakali, it is made up of the following communities: Caste Ten:ugu, Golla, Medari, Dasari, Mangali, Kuruva, Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Lingayat; Reddi, 32 SECTION V Munnuru Kapu, Padmasale, Boya, etc; Scheduled The villagers patronize the festival. Local people Castes (222) - Mala, Madiga, etc.; and Mmlims. of all communities congregate. Pujari is a Brahmin The chief means of livelihood of the people are with hereditary rights enjoying Inam lands. Free agriculture and agricultural labour. feeding is arranged by the villagers by collecting the required rice etc., from the villagers. Village deity Mysamma temple with Her stone image and Maruti temple are the places of worship. SOURCE: Sri lHalla Reddy, Matur Mysamma aradhana i~ celebrated from Margasira 20. Bandaranjal-Situated at a distance of 6 miles Suddha Purnima (November-December) for two days. from Banswada and 22 miles from Bodhan. Devotees offer cocoanuts and sacrifice fowls and goats to the deity in fulfilment of their vows. Carts are The total population of the village is 1,337 and taken round the temple. This is an ancient festival it is mad e up of several communities of Caste Hin extending to the nearby villages. 2,000 Hindus dus; Scheduled Castes (194) ; and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agri participate. culture, agricultural labour and other traditional A fair is held in this connection in a plot dedi occupations. cated to the deity for two days. 2,000 people congregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns and toilet Rama temple and the village deity Nalla goods are sold. Dramas, Chirata{a Bhagallatam and Pochamma temple are the places of worship in this bhajans are the items of entertainment. village. lHaruti jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Pur Srirama Navami uthsavam is celebrated for ten Chaitra Suddha Padyami Dasami nima (March-April) 10caH y. A Brahmin is the days from to (March pujari. Prasadam is distributed to all and there is April). Devotees discharge their vows. This is an ancient festival of local significance. Local free feeding. people of all communities congregate. SOURCE: 1. Sri Mahaboob Reddy, Malipatel, Patlolla A fair is held in this connection in a govern 2. Sri Lingappa, Dodla ment plot for two days. A few shops are opened by 19. Gundanamli-Situated at a distance of 5 miles the local traders to sell eatables, utensils and ear from Banswada and 21 miles from Bodhan Railway then toys. About 400 people cQngregate. Station. Once in 3 or 4 years animals are sacrificed to Previously this was situated at a short distance the village deity Nalla Pochamma on Chaitra Bahula from the present spot. But four years back the Tadiya (March-April) under the patronage of Potha residents shifted to the present site. raju family of Harijan community. The total population of the village is 595 and it SOURCE: Sri K. Srinivasarao, Bandaranjal is made up of the following communities: Caste 21. Banswada-The taluk headquarters is si tuated Hindus-Brahmin, Kapu, Banjara, Tenugu, Vadla, at a distance of 20 miles from Bodhan Railway Kammara, Kamsali, Lodha, Golla, etc.; Scheduled Station. Castes (156) - Mala, Madiga, etc. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, The total popUlation of the village is 8,201 and agricultural labour, fishing and other traditional it is made up of the following communities: Caste occupations. Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Tenugu, Padma sale, Kamsali, Vadrangi, Kammara, Kummari, Lord Brahma and Anjaneya are worshipped in Mera, etc.; Scheduled Castes (1,123) - Mala, this place with no temples. Madiga, etc.; and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, trade and Brahma Devu 'uthsallam is celebrated on Chaitra other traditional occupations. Suddha Padyami and Vidiya (March-April) for 2 days. Devotees offer cocoanuts in fulfilment of their vows. The temples of Rama, Hanuman, Saibaba, This is of ancient origin but of local significance. Markandeya, Sangameswara, Durga and Jumma BANSWADA TALUK 33 Masjid (mosque) are the places of worship. An Nake Bibi Saheb urs is celebrated on 14, Shaban awe-inspiring stone image of Bethalaswamy in (December-January) for a day. 550 local people human form installed in a plot of Gangareddy is irrespective of caste or creed participate. also worshipped. SOURCE: List of Urses, Nfelas, ]ataras, etc., inH.E.H. Bethalaswamy festival is celebrated for 4 days from the Nizarn's Dominions Chaitra Suddha Saptami to Dasami (March-April). 24. Thirmalapur-Situated at a distance of about Decorated carts go round the image of the Lord on 22 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. the last day. Cocoanuts are offered and goats and rams are sacrificed. This festival is of ancient ori The total population of the village is 1,960 and gin confined to this and a few nearby villages. The it is made up of several communities of Caste chief patrons are Neeradies of the village. 4,000 Hindus; Scheduled Castes (167). The chief means Hindu devotees local and from surrounding villages of livelihood of the people is agriculture. congregate. Pujari is Sri Gangareddy with here ditary rights. Village deity Nalla Pochamma is worshipped A fair is held in connection with the festival in th is place. for thi'ee days near the temple from ancient times. Nalla Pochamma jatara is celebrated in Chaitram About 4,000 people from this and a few nearby for a day (March-April). This festival is of local villages congregate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, significance. 300 people of all communities take mirrors and combs, pictures and photos, ayurvedic part. medicines, clothes, agricultural implements, toys, etc., are sold. \Vrestling competitions are arranged SOURCE: Statement of Fazrs and Festivals furnished by and the winners are awarded suitable prizes. Collector, Nizamabad A cattle fair is also held in this connection. 25. Pedda Rampur-Situated at a distance of 7 miles from Pittam and 32 miles from Bodhan Rail SOURCE: Sri Hanumanlu, Patwari, Banswada way Station. 22. Borlam-Situated at a distance of about 18 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. The total population of the village is 1,069 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste The total population of the village is 2,648 and Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Sale, Chakali, it is made up of the following communities: Caste Mangali, Vadla, Boya, Kammara,Goundla, Tenugu, Hindus; Scheduled Castes (582). The chief means etc; Scheduled Castes (144)-Mala, Madiga, etc.; of livelihood of the people is agriculture. and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. Mathadi Pochamma is the deity worshipped in this place. Ramanjaneyaswamy temple and Pochamma are the places of worship in this vi llage. }vlathadi Pochamma jatara is celebrated in Chaitram (March-April) for a day. This festival extends to Srirama Navami is celebrated for 7 days from the nearby villages also. 1,000 Hindus iocal and Chaitra Suddha Navami to Purnima (March-April). from the neighbouring villages congregate. Rathothsavam beinlS on Navami Cocoanuts are offered to the Lord. This festival is being celebrated for SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furni~hed by Galice/or, Nizamabad the past 60 years but is of local significance. The villagers are the patrons. Local people of all 23, Tadkol-Situated at a distance of 32 miles commumtIes participate. Pujari is a Brahmin. from Nizamabad. There is free feeding on Navami. River bath and fasting are the domestic observances. Intoxicants The total population of the village is 2,054 and are also used. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus; Scheduled Castes (229). The chief means SOURCE: 'Jri H. Venkateswara Nao, Vil'age Level Wor of livelihood of the people is agriculture. ker, Pedda Rampur 34 SECTION V 26. Katepalle-Situated at a distance of 3 miles 28. Chinna Kodap~al- Situated at a distance of from Peddakodapgal on Hyderabad-Nanded bus 24 miles from Banswada, 40 miles from Kamareddy route, 32 miles from Banswada and 50 miles from and 44 miles from Nizamabad Kamareddy Railway Station. The total population of the village is 1,867 and The total population of the village is 911 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus- Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, etc.; Scheduled Hindus-Lingayat, Tenugu, Golla, Bestha, Gandla, Castes (472); Muslims and Christians. The chief Kammara; Scheduled Castes (175)-Mala, Madiga, means of livelihood of the people are agriculture etc.; and Muslims. The chief mean s of livelihood and other traditional occupations. of the people are agriculture, agricultural labour. fishing and other traditional occupations. Rameswaraswamy temple on the nearby hillock with His self manifested stone Sivalingam, Anja Anjaneyaswamy temple is the only place of neyaswamy temple and a mosque are the places of worship in the village. worship. There are seven konerus (sacred ponds) and two dharma sa/rams (choultrics) near Rameswara Anjaneyaswamyaradhana is performed for a day swamy temple one of ,,,,hich is the abode of a Sadhu, on Vaisakha Suddha Purnima (April-May). Cocoa Datho :Maharaj. nuts are offered. This festival is being celebrated for the past 16 years but is of local significance. RameswaraS"tI.1omy mahothsavam is celebrated for a The patrons are the villagers. Local people of all day on the last Monday in Sravana Bahulam (July communities participate. Pujaris are Lingayats of August). Devotees fulfil their vows. Cocoanuts are Muthinibogi gotram. Prasadam is distributed to all offered. Annapuja (offering of cooked rice), Akupuja and there is free feeding to all. with betel leaves) are performed. This festival is (worship of ancient origin and extends to the nearby SOURCE: Sri Prabhusetti Desai; Sarpanch, KatepaUe villages also. About 2,000 people of all communities participate. Pujari is a Brahmin of Harithasa gotram 27. Allapur-Situated at a distance of 2 miles with hereditary righ t8. Prasadam is distri buted to all. from Chinna Kodapgal on Hyderabad-Nanded bus route, 3_3 miles from Banswada and 50 miles from A fair is held in this connection at the foot of Nizamabad. the hillock in a government, plot for 5 or 6 days beginning from the next da y of the festival. Taxes The total population of the village is 450 and it are collected by the Panchayat Board. About 2,000 is made up of the following communities: Caste peoplf' congregate. Eatables, utensils, toilet and Hindus-Vaisya, viswabrahmin, Tenugu, Kuruva, household goods, books, photos and agricultural Chakali, Padmasale etc.; Scheduled Castes (154) implements are sold. Lottery, and swinging boards Mala, Madiga, etc.; and Muslims. The chief are the chief entertainments. means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, Devotees take bath in the pond on the hillock, agricultural labour, trade, weaving, blanket weav observe fasting and jagarana on all IVlondays and ing and other traditional occupations. Saturdays in Sravanam (July August) besides on the Sivaratri day in j\;Jagham (January-February). Anjaneyaswamy temple is the only place of worship in the village. In Anjaneyaswamy temple bhajans on Chaitra Suddha Padyami (March-April), Sri Rama j(l)'antllOth Anjaneyaswamy uthsavam is celebrated for a day on savam on J"Vuvami are celebrated. About 200 devotees Vaisakha Suddha Purnima (April- May). Cocoanuts congregate. There is free feeding on- Drzsami. On are offered to the Lord. This festival is being Ekadasi wrestling competitions are held and prizes celebrated for the past-g years but is of local signifi- are distributed to the winners. -cance. The patrons are the villagers. Local people of all communities participate. Prasadam is distri SOVRCE: 1. Sri Narayana, Police Patel, Chinna buted to all and there is free feeding. Kodapgal 2. Sri T. Narasareddy, Teacher, Ch ill lla SOURCE: Srj Lingappa, Police Patel, Allapur Kodapgal BANSW ADA TAL UK 35 29. Pedda Annaram - Situated at a distance of are made in advance. Puja s are performed from 3 miles from the Pittam-Rampur road, 5i miles Padyami, Ramaja yan ti being on Navami and the from Banswada and 17 miles from Bodhan Railway uthsavam en'ds on Purnima with Hanuman jayanti Station. This was a jagir of Sivaraja Bahadur till with a small procession. This festival is of local 1950. significance. Pujari is a Sri Vaishnava Brahmin with hereditary rights. The total population of the village is 382 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste SOURCE: Sri N. John, Ttacher, Gatupur Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Sale, Chakali, Mangali, etc.; Scheduled Castes (39); Muslims and Christi· 31. Thunkepalle - Situated at a distance of about ans. The chief means of livelihood of the people 10 miles from the taluk Banswada and 26 miles· , are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade and other from Bodhan Railway Station. traditional occupations. The total popvlation of the village is 623 and Temples of Rama with His stone image, it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hanuman and the village deity Nalla Pochamma Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Munnuru Kapu', with Her stone image in human form are the places Muthracha, Kammara, Kummari, Kamsale,'Padma of worship in the village. sale, etc.; Scheduled Castes (73); and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood of the people are Srirama Navami is celebrated for 9 days from agriculture and other traditional occupations. Chaitra Suddha Navami to Purnima (March-April). Hanuman jayanti is celebrated for 7 days from Sri Vasaraswamy temple with the images of Chaitra Suddha Dasami to Bahula Padyamt. Nalla Eswara and Anjaneya is the place of worship. Pochamma jatara is celebrated for a day in Chaitra Suddham (M'c;lrch-April). Cocoanuts are offered. Sri Vasaraswamy festival is celebrated for 4 Fowls, goats, sheep', etc" are sacrificed by devotees days in Sravanam (July-August). Cocoanuts are in fulfilment of their vows. This festival is of offered. This festival is of ancient origin but of ancient origin and extends to the nearby villages. local significance. There is two acres of Inam land. The patrons are the villagers. About 500 people of The patrons are the villagers. Local people of all communities congregate. Prasadam is distributed all communities participate. Pujari is a Brahmin. to all. Prasadam is distributed to all. There is free feeding. Bhajans are performed and jagarana is observed by A fair is held in this connection for a day and the devotees. a few shops are opened. Wrestling and kolatams are the entertainments. SOURCE: Sri K. Malliah, Sarpanch, Burugula SOURCE: 1. Sri M. Venkatareddy, Pedda Annaram 32. Narva - Situated' at a distance of 12 miles 2. Sri D. Gangaram, Patwari, Pedda from Banswada and 28 miles from Bodhan Railway Annaram Station. 30. Galipur - Situated at a distance of 3 miles The total population of the village is 805 and it from Banswad:l and 28 miles from B~dhan Railway is made up of the following communities: Caste Station. Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Muthracha, etc.; Sche duled Castes (102); and Muslims. The chief means The total population of the village is 785 and of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricul it is made up of the following communities: Caste tural labour, trade and other traditional occupa Hindus-Brahmin, \ Kapu, Kammara, Kummari, tions. Vadla, Oddara, etc.; Scheduled Castes (166)-Mala, Madiga, etc.; and Muslims. The chief means of Anjaneyaswamy temple outside the village with livelihood of the people are agriculture and other His stone image is the only place cf worship in this traditional occupations. village. Hanuman jayanti is celebrated for a day on Anjaneyaswamy sapthaham is celebrated for 7 Cha'itra Suddha Purnima (March-April). Arrangements days from Vaisakha Suddhd Dasami to Bahula Padyami 36 SEOTION V (April-May). The temple and tIle image are decora 34. Vaddepalle - Situated at a distance of 18 ted and pandals are erected. The temple surround miles from Banswada and 35 miles from Kamareddy ings are cleaned. Cocoanuts and gandadetpams are Railway Station. A Vaddera is said to have con offered b-y the devotees in f ulfi\mcnt of their desires. stn1cted this village a century back and hence called Harinamasmarana (~inging in prai<;,c 'If God) bh dans Vaddepalle. andjagarams are performed during these days. This The total population of the villa)!;e is 897 and it festival is being celebrated for the past 15 years but is maue up of the following communities: Caste is of local significance. The villagers patronize the Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, Llngayat, Kapu, Mun festival by collecting subscriptions flOm each family nuru Kapu, Tenc.gu: Goudu, Kammara, Kummari, of the village. Local people congregate irrespective Chakali, l\fangali, Vadde, Kamsale, etc.; Sch;:duled of caste or creed. Pljjari is Sri man Ramulu Joshi Ca~tes (l16)-~fala, I>"Iadiga, etc.; and Muslims. The with hereditary rightl>. Prasadam is distributed to chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul all. There is poor fceding. ture, trade and other traditi Devotees take bath in Nagamadugu in Manjeera Kolatam and veeahibhagavathams afford entertain river. As there is a trace of a creeping serpent on ment. a stone slab near the pool it appears to have derived the name Nagamadugu (Naga means serpent, and Hanurnan jaJanti is celebrated for a day on madugu is pool). Vaisckha Suddha Purnima (April-May). Cocoanuts and flowers are offered. The local Hindus partici SOURCE: Sri Gangadhara Rao, Headmaster, Junior Basic pate. Pujari is a Brahmin of Bharadwaja~a gutram School, Achampet with hereditary rights. 36. ArepalJe - Situated at a dist:mce of 20 miles SOURCE: J. Sri Mallareddy, Arepalle from Banswada, 52 miles from Bodhan, 38 miles 2 Sri V. Venkatachari, Teacher, Arepalle from Kamareddy Railway Station and 50 miles from Nizamabad. This village W'lS reconstructed 37. Ramreddipet - Situated at a distance of 30 in 1928 as the original village was submerged during miles from Banswada and 45 miles from Bodhan the construction of the Nizamsagar tank. Railway Station. The total population of the village is 644 and it The total population of the village is 651 and is made up of the following communities: Caste it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Muthracha, Chakali Mangali, B"ya, Hindus-Tenugu, Reddi, Vaisya, Gowndla, Padma Kapu, Motati, etc.; Scheduled Castes (3I)-Mala, sale, Vadla, Kammara, Kummari, Chakali, Golla Madiga, etc.; and Christl.ans. The chief means of and Boya, etc.; Scheduled Castes (54)-Mala, their livelihood are agriculture and agricultural Madiga, etc.; Muslims and Christians. The chief labour. means of livelihood of the people are agriculture and agricultural labour. Ycllamma temple with the black stone image, Hanuman temple and a church are the places of There are temples of Pochamma, Sri Rama, worship in this village. Hanuman and Durgadevi with the images in hu man form in this village. Y;/lamma jatara is celebratcd for 4 days flOm the first Tuesday to Friday in the dark fortnight of Srirama Navami is celebrated for 7 days from Vaisakha (April - May) with great enthusiasm. Chaitra Suddha Navarni to Purmina (March-April). It Arrangements are made 4 days in advance. On is of ancient origin and the local Hindus partici t he fir st day d ecora tcd carts are tak ~n round pate. Pujari is a Brahmin. There is free feeding Yellamma's temple and on the secor{d day Sidibandi on Dasami. 38 SECTION V Animals are sacrificed to Durgabhavani from Kanakadurga jatam is celebrated for 7 days from Chaitra Bahula Padyami to Tadiya (March - April). Vaisakha Suddha Dwadasi to Bahula Tadiya (April - May). Bonalu are offered on Triodasi. Carts are taken SOURCE: 1. Sri K. Ramakrishnaiah, Teacher, Ram round the temple on Chathurdasi and ratllOthsavam reddipe! on Purnima. Goats and rams are sacrificed. It is 2. Sri Gulam Mahabub, Patwari, Ramreddi~ of anCient origin and the local Hindus participate. pet Pujari is Govindarao, a Brahmin of Bharadwajasa gotram. 38. Nizampet - Situated at a distance of about 40 miles from Kamareddy Railway Station. Brahmamgari rathothsavam takes places from The total population of the village is 3,135 and Vaisakha Suddha Dasomi (April-May). The local it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus participate. Pujari is Brahmaiah. Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Reddi, Muthracha, etc.; Scheduled Castes (277)-Mala, Madiga, etc.; Fastings, river baths and jagarana are observed Muslims and Christians. The chief means of liveli~ during the festivnl period. hood of the people are agriculture and agricultural labour. SOURCE: J. Sri D. Rajamallaiah, Sarpanch, Nizampet The wooden idol of Kanak'adurga seated on a 2. Sri Mohd. Atlrifur Rahman, Headmaster, lion is worshipped. J. B. School, }t/izampet MADNURIND. SUB. TALUK FAIRS AND FESTIVALS MADNUR IND. SUB. TALUK NIZAMABAD DISTRICT. A. P. 130DHAN . ~® • "ONUR . •. ,/.. \.. .. . " _. " .. MAHARASHTRA STATE .. 'WESTERN ZONE> C .. -.. .. ~ .. '-._) \.__,. ._ PEDOAOE 6'CHKOND~ \.!.I '-'@~f.:\t ,CHIN,.". ~. PEODA @.DHADGI @ 6ASWAPUR INDEX 0 56 PWDA GHOLL~ ANIX PlWJHu S NO CODe NUMBE1I AND NMi£ OF DE/TY AND P£AlDD NOW" C£C NAME OF VllLACie OF FAIR OR fESTIVAL 0 71 CHINNA OEVAO~ VENKATESWARASwAMY • ...... ,. t SALABA THPUR HANU_'1 ., CD _. ..,. @ 73 BICHKONDA 6ASALING APP ASw ,AM...... l (}) 6 SONAtA VE£RA HAK·.··IAN @ 76 PEeOA O;:V,\DA 8ASAV::S "'AM5 WAM Y MAI'...W .." rHADlHlPPERGA HANUMAN @ 78 PEDDA OHAOGI LAKSHAMMA 0 MAA. AIC N'. 21 MAONUR LAK.IHMINAIlASIMHASWAM Y @ eolWAPUII V£HICA rES W ARA.S WAM' 0 An.. MAl 31 KOCHIRA GOY,NOA MAHARN 85CH/NN~ TAKADP~E IMTHADI POChAMM/o CD f.\AA· ",. ® .... ® TAI-U," "'E.~~"'T£"S 42 HASGUl MALUKARJUN~ MAHAOEVA @ 89 KOWlAS SANMRACHAR r A ® Itt.)/; ~fI· ...... !£,itIAL "'uM8£" o W'k.l.ACf WI""'. CD 46LACHAN MY~Ao\I/IIA @ 94 BA5WAfUR e;u~VANNA ~"fV£R £lle 011 JAh ...... ,. j " ... "4 K' ..... ,",_lid II ell" 01'> •• 01 U-, \.o~'''I",_ 0' c. __ ~"" ...... '''.P'aClH ...... ,,,• ...... , Section VI MADNUR TALUK ~aJabatpur alias Mirzapur - Situated at a dis Railway Station and 74 miles from Bodhan by road. C"'" tance of one mile to the west of ~vIadnur, 54 The total population of the village is 272 and it miles from Nanded Railway Station and 75 miles is made up of the following communities: Caste from Bodhan. Hindus-Lingayat, Bestha, Maratha (Sivaphan This is a small village with a population of only tham), etc.; Scheduled Castes (129)-Mala, Madiga; 19 (nineteen). All of them are Hindus. They be and Muslims. Agriculture and agricultural labour long to the Maratha community and Sivaphantham are the chief means of livelihood of the people. sect. The chief means of their livelihood is agri~ culture. There is a temple of Veera Hanuman with a 4 feet high stone image under a neem tree. The There is the only temple of Hanuman in the temple is situated on the outskirts of the village. village. The deity is depicted in an impressive from of devotional posture. Hanuman jayanti is Hanuman jayanli is celebrated for one day on celebrated for 7 days from Chaitra Suddha Navami to Chaitra Suddha Navami (March-April). It is being Purllima (March - April). Arrangements for the celebrated for the past one year and is confined to festival are made one week in advance. Abhishekam this village only. The village elders, especially is performed on Purnima, the main festival day. Lingayats are the patrons. L()cal Hindus partici Coconuts, fruits, milk, flowers and small sums of pate. Prasadam is distributed to all. People arrange money are offert>d to the deity. Cows and bulls are fcasts in their houses. also dedicated in the name of the deity. Prasadam is distributed to all the visitors and poor feeding is People observe fast during Ashadha Suddha Eka done on all these 7 days. Pujari of the temple is dasi (June-July) and Maha Sivaratri, i.e., on il1agha Shri Babu Singh, a Rdjput of Hazari Thakur Bahula Chatu rdasi (January-February). gutram. SOURCE: Sri Shankar RIlO, Teacher, Thadlhipparga This festival is 25 years old and a fair is held . in connection with the festival. About 60 small 3. Thadihipparga-Situated at a distance of two temporary shops of various kinds including sweet miles from Madnur to the north, 59! miles from meats, flowers. cocoanuts, toys, wooden furniture, Nanded Railway Station and 73 miles from Bodhan. etc., are erected. The total population of the village is 717 and it Bhajans, kolatams, burrakathas and musical con is made up of the following communities: Caste certs take place during the festival days and provide Hindus-l\1aratha, Lingayat, Goswamy, Chakali, entertainment to the visitors. About 50 people l'vlangali, Vadla, Dhanagara; Scheduled Castes participate in the programmes like bhajan and kola (239)-Mala, Madiga; and Muslims. Agriculture lam, whereas 300 to 1,000 people grace the pro and traditional occupations are the chief means of grammes. On the main fcstiyal day, 5 to 6 thous livelihood of the people. and people mostly Hind us and Sadhus c"angrc SOCRCE: Sri EhuJ!w( Piche, Asst. Teacher, Salabatpur Hanumanja.1'anti is celebrated for one day on April 9th. It is of local significance. Lingayats 2. Sonala Situated at a distance of 2 miles from :l.fe the chief patrons. Hindus including Scheduled :\fadlltlr to the north, 59 miles from Nanded Castes take part in it. Sri ~Iythri is the pujari. 40 SECTION VI Animals are sacrificed at Lakshmidevi and his Guru and is being worshipped. Papa Gowd is Mahakali temples when epidemics are rampant in the chief patron. The local devotees congregate. the village. All communities p:l.rticipate. pIJJari is Ramadas l\1aharaj. Prasadam is distributed to all. There Devotees observe fast during the month of are free feeding facilities for the pilgrims. Ashadam (June-July) and Mahasivaratri, 1. e., Magha Bahula Chaturdasi (January-February). SOURCE: Sri Veel"ilbhadram, Teacher, Primary School, Kotchira SOURCE: Sri Shankar Rao, Teacher, Thadihip parga 6. Hasgul-Situated at a distance of about 8 miles 4. Madnur-Taluk headquarters. About 16 miles from Madnur and 15 miles from Bodhan Rail from Bodhan Railway Station and 30 miles from way Station. Nizamabad. The total population of the village is 1,467 and The total population of the village is 4,462 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus-Jangztm, Kapu, Mangali, Chakali, Kam· it is made up of several communities: Caste Hin mara, Kummari, Avusula, etc.; Scheduled Castes dus; Scheduled Castes (477); Muslims and (196)-Mala, Madiga. Agriculture and traditional Christians. The chief means of their livelihood are occupations are t lIe chief means of livelihood of the agriculture and other traditional o~cupations. people. Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswam)1 festival is cele l\fallikaljunaswamy in the form of a Sivalingam brated for a day in Vaisakfwm (April-May). The is worshipped in this village. local Hindus participate. SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished J...fallikarJuna l'vIahadeva festival is celebrated for by Collector, Nizamabad one day on Bhadrapada Suddha Vidiya (August-Septem ber). It is being celebrated from ancient times and 5. Kotchira-Situated at a distance of 4 miles is confined to this village only. Local Hind us take from Madnur, 58 miles from Nanded Railway part. Station. SOURCE: Sri Hanumantharao, Asst. Teacher, Panchayat Samithi Schoo!, Hasgul ' The total population of the village is 1,184 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste 7. Lachan - About 5 miles from Madnur and Hindus - Lingayat, Mangali, Chakali, Gowda, 17 miles fr(Jm Bodhan Railway Station. Padmasale, Munnuru Kapu, Kummari, Telaga, etc.; Scheduled Castes (289)-Mala, Madiga; and The total population of the village is 866 and it Muslims. The chief means of their livelihood is is made up of the following communities: Caste agriculture. Hindus-Lingayat, Balija, Kapu, Chakali, Mangali, Vadla, Avusula, Kammara, Kummari, etc.; Govind Maharaj Mandir with his four feet high Scheduled Castes (339) - Aray (Mala), l\ladiga. stone image in human form, Lakshmidevi temple, The chief means of livelihood of the people are Rarna Mandir, Vitaleswara Mandir, 2 Hanuman agricul ture an d other traditiona 1 occupations. temples, Siva temple, Veerabhadraswamy temple, Chennamma Mandir and 5 mosques are the places The village deity Afysarnma uthsa~'llrn is celebrated of worship in this village. for 2 days in December or January once in 3 years. This is celebrated by Harijans with the help of the Govinda A1aharaJ uthsavam is celebrated for 3 days villagers for the welfare of the villagers. A decorated from Chaitra Bahula Amavasya (March-April). Cocoa he-buffalow is taken round the village to the n.uts and fruits are offered. Jagarana is observed. accompaniment of music in the night and is behea This uthsavam is being celebrated for the past 12 ded before the deity, Mysamma. The next morning yearS. Govinda Maharaj was the Guru (preceptor) a naked youth with neem leaves tied round his ~f Papa Gowd and so after his death Papa Gowd waiste, carrying the intestines and flesh of the sacri constructed a mandir and a choultry in the name of ficed animal on his head and in his mouth ·is taken MADNUR T ALUK 41 round the village by pothurajus to the hea t of drums themselves. She restored their original forms. from the presence of the deity. This is called They later blessed her with a son. He came to be Blte/hala. This latter part of the festival com known as the Trinity in one, namely, the three mences from 4 P. M. and continues upto 6 P. ~1. faced Dathatreya. The dancing girls sing and dance, entertain the people and c011ect money. Afterwards devotees fu I f;] their vows. Jatli kumbham (cooked rice) is offered Manohara and Bayadevi of Kalyani, 36 miles tu the deity. Next Gavu succeeds this fUIIction. One from Gulbarga, got a son by the grace of Lord Siva. of the Pothllraju decorates a goat with pasupu. bnkuma The boy was dumb till his upanayanam and suddenly :.inU ncem leaves. He dances in front of the deity began to speak soon after upanayanam. They prayed for a while and then bites its throat with his teeth Lord Dathatreya w 11') appeared in their dream till it bleeds to death, with' whieh the fpstivc,1 and blessed them with another son who would concludes. Participation is limited t(1 the peuple bring them fame. The pregnant Bayadevi attrac of the village. ted hundreds of ladies of all communities including untouchables (of those days), Arabs and Muslims SOURCE: Sri G.Gangaram, Headmaster, Puncha),at Sami with costly presents. Bayadevi gave birth to a son lhi School, Lachan and he was looked on very well by her disciples. This boy showed many super-human qualities. There 8. Peddaghol1a - Situated at a distance of about was no explanation for the superhuman talents of 11 miles from Madnur and 29 miles from Bodhan Dathatreya except the blind belief that he was Railway Station. Dathatreyumasa Sambhutha (incarnation of Lord Dathatreya). The Nawab of Kalyani with all The total population of the villa~E is 1,540 and his retinue paid a visit to see the boy and kept him it is made up of the following commanities: Caste under constant police guard. His upanayanam in the Hindus - Brahmin, Vaisya, B ..wj (Lingayat), seventh year was on a princely scale, during which Maratha, Vadla, Mangali, etc.; Scheduled Castes he amaged the purohit s by chanting mantras. After (83); and Muslims. The chief means of livelihood his eighth year, he disappeared by entering into the of the people are agricultufe, agricultural labour near:)y forest and returned after two or three da ys. and other tradi tional occupations. The police and the people searched for him in vain. Umnabad where the samadhi of the Lord now stands Hanuman temple and Manik Prabhu mandir is 40 miles away from Kalyani amidst a thick forest with the golden image are the places of worship and is now in IVIysore State. In the centre of the here. Before the golden image, there are the gold forest, there is a sacred pond called Ambilakundam, plated feet of the Lord kept on a stone. with the tomb of a great saint on its bank. The karnam of l"1antala, a forest-village, was surprised to ",1anik Prabhu uthsavam is an annual celebra· see a ten-year old boy balhing in the pond and tion here. He was born in Umnabad, now in doing pradakshinam to the samadhi, unmindful of I\1ysore State. His devotees helieve ]lim to be his enquiry about him. After finishing pradakshinam the incarnation of Dathatreya. Dathatreya is he began to walk away. The kamam followed him Trinity in one. Saraswathi, Labhmi and Parvathi for some distance and had to return home as the grew envious of the popularity of Anasuya as a boy changed into a tiger. He had known Bayadevi pathivratha and compelled their relucu.mt husbands and heard about her great Son believed to be Manik Brahma, Vishnu and ~faheswara respectively to ya Prabhu. The Prabhu soon appeared in the force her to appear before them naked. The three karnam's house to bless the latter's wife with safe went to Anasuya in the absence of her hmband and delivery. He was aged ten at that time, his elder begged for food. \Vhen she was about to serve them brother Dara Saheb was sixteen and the younger food, they threatened her that they would go away brother Tathya Saheb was four. He visited some with empty stomachs unless she served them food sacred places, spent years in penance, showed naked. She did serve them food naked, only numerOl1S miracles, gave relief to the suffering devo after transforming them into three babies with the tees, guided sever;:!l disciples in the path of religion pc)\ver of her palhivrathymn. The three Goddesses and renouned the remaining 35 years of his life. had. to beg Anasuya to restore their husbands to The following are a few of his miracles. 42 SECTION VI Abanayab, one of his di.sciples :1t Umnahad was them that if the fact was known to others before the cought in a current which he thoughtlessly attemp CiJiicl usion of the Jayanthi on Purnima, the conse ted to cross without minding the rising level of the quences would be serious. According to His wishes, Witter in it and his end \\'as imminent. He pr:lyed sa;nadhi was ready and Prabhu clltercd into it. Before to the lord. A strong man appeared from some entering, one Appa Sahch, another disciple who where with a lnmbJo stick and hel?ed Ilim Ollt of succeeded him \\'ol'shi1)p2d Him and received from the current. Prabhu warned hi':}} not to repeat such Him a g:uland from His neck. The 1.01 d controlled reckle:>s ventures. a~l the nine orficcs of the body and the doors of the s<17nadhi \\'erc closcu. The fame anu influence of In the village Rajuri, Prabhu asked the people l\Ianikp Prabllll spread in .i\hharashtra, Karnataka \Vhf) are carrying the crJrpse of a wom::l.1l to the and districts Tdangana of L\ndhra Pradesh and crem;ltiflll ground whether they would burn in th.eir tel'J1ples an!l mandirs in His name were constructed. vilbge living persons. \\'hen the bier ,vas put The uthsiJvam is hel!l on a very large scale at Umna down, the \\'oman got up alive. bad. Manik)'a Prahlw ulh5al'am is celebrated for 5 days from AJargrzsi1Q Suddha Ekadasi to Purnima Vittalrao, a disciple once c::tme for the permis (I\ovember-Decembcr). This festival was introduced sion of the PrabllU to attend a marriage at Hydera by AV:ld utha Maharaj, a native of Ka rna tak Sta te b~ld. He asked him UJ return immediately. But ant! was a great saint who used to change \Vater into Vittalrao prolonged his stay at Hyt:crabad and the ghee and vice l'aja. His tombw as constructed by result was 1h:1t his step-mother administered to him raising subscription~. This is being celebrated for a dcatHy poison. He and his desperate family the past 100 yean. =\1arathas are the chief patrons. prayed Prabhu to save them. ;\ byragi gave Vittal Local devotees irrespective of clste or creed partie i rao an antidote with which he was saved from the p,lte. P;(jari is a l\laratha bachelor. Free freeding poison. \Vhen he returned to Prabhu, Prabhu fCleilities are arranged for a day. found him suffering from the effects of the poison. SOl'RCE: An Enumerator WhCD his ~luslim disciples served Him antI His disciples with meat :lnd liquor, He asked the con 9. Chinna Devada-Situated at a distance of 13 tainers to be covered with cloth and changed them miles from Madnur Railway Station and 4-5 miles into fruits and milk to the great amazement and from Bodhan" solace of His disciples. It is said that there were several instances when he gave relief to the persons The total popUlation of the village is 537 and sulTering from physical and mental ailments. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Kurama, Atkara, Lingayat, l\funnuru Venkamma, a close disciple desired that Kapu, Tenugu; Scheduled Castes (125)-Mala, 1hnik Prabhu should perform her samadhi. Sri :Yfadiga. The chief means of their livelihood are Daththaguruswamy ]flyallti uthsavam commenced on agriculture and agricultural labour. Afargasira Suddha Vid/Joa and concluded on Dasami. Vellkamma uttered on Dasami morning" Om Namo Lord Venkateswara is worshipped in the form 11anikyaya" keeping her head on the feet of the of a stone image under a ravi tree in human form. Prabhu, never to risco Prabhu himself attended.to The image is left in the open without any cover or her samadhi. Prabhu's parents and brothers also temple. clied during His lifetime. Lord Venkatcswarafestival is cdebrated for 2 days S,i Dathilzag1tnl jl7}'anthyutltsavam commences from Chai!.ra Suddha Purnima lMarch-April). The on Jlargasira SudJhl f'i 11)'11 and concludes on Purnima. chief patrons are Avusulas. 000 Jeyotees, local and Manikya Prabhu confided in Bapa Ch:.nyulu, from the neighb::l 11ring villa~es of all communities N:lrayanadeekshithulu and two others and told that participate. There ill free fceding. the earthly connection between them and Himself would cease on Ekadasi. He desired th:1t they four A few shops are opencd in the fair that is held alone should prepare His samadhi during nights and during the festival. Wrestling competitions are close it after He entered it on Ekadasi. He warned conducted and prizes are award~d to the winners. MADNUR TALUK 43 The devotees take river bath and observe Jaga he - buffalo is being let out in the name of the deity rana during j\laha Sivaratri. a year in advance and is sacrificed on the festive da y. A Mala is the pujari with hereditary rights. SOURCE: Sri C. Narsaiah, Headmaster, Government The local people participate. Primary School, Chinna Devada SOURCE: Sri C. Narsaiah, Headmaster, Government 10. Bichkunda-Situated at a distance of about 11 Primary ~chool, Pfdda DtVada miles from Madnur and 46 miles from Bodhan. 12. Pedda Dhadgi - Situated at distance of 3 The total popUlation of the village is 5,332 and miles from Hyderabad-Nanded bus route and 13 it is made up of the following communities,' Caste miles from Madnur. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (544); Scheduled Tribe (one). The chief means of livel ihood of the people The total population of the village is 812 and it are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade and is made up of the following communities: Caste other tradi tional occupations. Hindus-Lingayat, Boya, Padmasale, Golla, Kam mara, Vadla, etc.; Scheduled Castes (124)-Mala, Lord R,salingappaswamy is worshipped in this Madiga; and Muslims. The chief 'means of their village. livelihood are agriculture, agricultural labour and and other traditional occupations. Basalinga{1paswamy Sivaratri uthsavam is celebrated f')r 3 da ys from jJagha Bahu'a Triodasi to Amavasya Anjaneyaswamy temple, Mysamma temple and !January-Fehruary). This is confined to this and Uradamma temple are the places of worship in this the nearby villages. People of all communities village. Lakshmamma is worshipped in the form participa te. of a wooden image with no temple. SOURCE: Statement Fairs and Festivals furnished by if Lakshmamma jJUja is conducted once in 3 or 4 years Colleltor, J{i;;;amabad for 2 days in Vaisakham (April - May). Cocoanuts are offered and gO:its, fowls and rams are sacrificed 11. Peuda Devada - Situated at distance of 14 to the deity. This is of ancient origin and only the miles from Madnur and 46 miles from Bodhan. local Hindus congregate. The total population of the village is 489 and it is m:1cic up of the following communitics: Caste Pothurajus belonging to l'vIala and Madiga com H'ndus-Lingayat, Boya and Padmasale; Schedu munity are the patrons and pujaris. led C'1~tes (142)-Mala and Madiga. The chief SOURCE: Sri N. Mowlaji, Headmaster, Primary School, means of their livelihood are agriculture, fishing Pedda Dhadgi BasQ1 l cswara festival is celebrated for one day Hindus-Boya, etc.; Scheduled Castes (1 1 7)-Mala, i. C., on T'aisakha Suddha Purnima (A.pril-;\lay). 600 ~Iadiga. The chief means of livelihood of the local devotees, irrespective of caste or creed ~ongre people is agriculture. gate. There is free feeding for the poor. Sankara mandir, Anjaneya mandir and Venka A few shops are opened near the tt'mple in this teswara$wamy temple are the places of worship in connection. this village. Uradamma festival is celebrated for one day in Venkateswaraswamy rathothsavam is celebrated for Push.yam (December-January) for the welfare and a day in Vaisakham (April-May). Cocoanuts are protcction of thc villagers and their cattle. A offered. Th;s is of ancient origin and is of local 44 SECTION VI signi ficance. Local people of al! communities Sankara{'har)"a jayantl IS celebrated for 5 days participate. Brahmins are the patrons. from Vaisakha Suddha Padyallli to Panchami (April May). Festival arrangements are made. Fasting SOURCE: Sri N. Mowlaji, Headmaster, Primary School, is observed. Offerings are made in the form of cash RajDpur or kind. Local devotees of all communities partici pate. Pajari. is a Vaishnavite Brahmin. There is 14. Chinna TakadpaJle-Situated at a distance of free feeding. 2 furlongs from the Nanded--Hyderabad road and 16 miles from Madnur. SOURCE: Sri J..fohmmad Sadullah, Teacher, Kowlas The total population of the village is 407 and it 16. Baswapur- Situated at a distance of 7 miles is made up of the follo\ving communities: Caste from Nizamsagar-Nanded bus road, 10 miles from Hindus-Lingayat, Kurama, etc.; Scheduled Castes Madnur and 25 miles from Bodhan Railway (83)-Mala, 1hdiga. The chief means of their Station. livelihood are agriculture, agricultural labour and sheep rearing. The total popUlation of the village is 687 and it is made up of the following communities: Caste Anjaneyaswamy temple, Mysamma temple and Hindus-Munnuru Kapu, Kammara, Balija, Reddy, Uradamma temple are the places of worship in this Vadla, Chakali, etc; Scheduled Castes (141); and village. Mathadi Pochamma is worshipped in the Muslims The chief means of livelihood of the form of a human im:lge with no temple. people are agriculture, agricultural labour and woollen carpet weaving. AIathadi Pochamma festival is celebrated for a day on Vaisakha Balzula Chathurdasi (April-May). Lord Basavanna's (bull's) face carved on a Goats and fowls are sacrificed. Houses are deco~ stone slab is worshipped. Uradamma temple in rated wi th festoons and oil bath is taken. This is the centre of the village with the stone image in the being celebrated for the past 4 years and the local form of a triangle and Lord Basavanna's (bull's) devotees of all communities participate. :Mudira image carved out in a stone slab without a temple jus are the pujaris with hereditary rights. are the places of worship in the village. SOURCE: Sri N. Satyanaroyan Raj, Headmaster, Chinna Basava ja_yanthi is celebrated for 2 days on Chaitra Takadpalle Suddha Navami and Dasami (March-April). This festival is of 6 years old and confined to this village 15. Kowlas- Situated at a distance of about 10 only. People of all communities participate in the miles from Madnur and 28 miles from Bodhan celebrations. Railway Station. Uradnmma panduga is celebrated for one day once The total population of the village is 1,425 and in 25 or 30 years. Goats and fowls are sacrificed to it is made up of the following communities; Caste the deity. Subscriptions are collected from the Hindus-Brahmin, Chak,,ji, etc.; Scheduled Castes villagers to meet the expenditure of the festival. (180)-Mtla, ~fJ.diQ;a; and Muslims. The chief PothuraJus are the pllJaris. They take intoxicants. means of their livelihood is agriculture. The flesh of the sacrificed anim:Jls is distrilmted among the Scheduled Castes' people. Ananthagiri temple, Kalyana Ramadas mandir and Sankaracharya mundir with the images in human SOURCE: Sri Pandarinath, Headmaster, Prima r)' School, form are the places of worship in this village. Baswapur BODHAN TALUK z·~ ~ z·!! l;: Q >- 0 § 4 0 z ~ ~ ?, ~ ~ < ~ ~ ... ;:: • >-..: Q ~ >= ~:lI ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ Cii ~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ >- Q~ ~~::; ~~ ~ ~ ~ 0: Z "'UJ ~ i~ >- ~ ~ Q '" :t <: ~ J: ~ I- ~ ~ ~ ;;; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '"0 ~ ~ ::z >: '"0: >: 0 :£ - ~ ~ ~ "" ~ '" UJ '" 21 !!!O ~ ~ ~ UJ ~ ~ UJ '" ::> '":r ~ !!! .a, "" ~ '" "" 0 V'" UJ '" ~~ VI ~ ~ Z '" ;:: .,_ :5" ""~ :r'" :;; '" '" ;;; i!s '" " '" ~ "Z "" ~ :'!: ;j;~ ~ '" "" .... ~ ~ '" '" Z Z 0 ~ '" '" "" '" UJ ~ ~ ..: ~ ;:: ~ ~ ~ '" 0 ~ I.> 0 ""Z ~ '"0 ~~a ~ ;:: "" '" >( UJ~ :a 0 '";;;: i!: '"z UJ'" '""" '" '" UJ '" :;: '"::> ;:: '" '" ti ~ 3 '"z '" UI '" ., '" ~ ~ ~ > >: ~ ij\ ~ '"::z i!i'" iii iii ::z 0: Vi a ~ ~ '"Z ~ iJ\ ~ '""" ::. '" 0 '" '" " '" z 0 UJ z I.> ~ ,_ ~ '" UJ '-' '"UJ ~ < '" z'" UJ :_; <' 5: >( '" u '" \.0 '" '" iE ;:: '"0 ~ '" ~ z l: z Z 0 ~ ~ 0 0 "" ::e '" "":z \.0 '"2: ~ "" 0 :r"" '" 6 '"z "" I.>"" '" '"'3 '" !i: "" '" ::z'" C) ei "'"0 " ~ '" z >- ~ '" 2: ... Z ""\.0 '3 '" Z ::;, 0 Z ::;, " iE ;;! '"0 UJ 0 :r UJ UJ '" '" '" ;;;: 0 ~ >( '" .,_ ;,; g :0; ~ ;,; '" ;::'" . a I :z ::e'" " 2 0 '" '" "" '" '" '" "" ~ ~ ~ '"~ "" '" v '"z ~ '" "" ;;: ~ :! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ::; ::l :il ..~ '" " ~ . ~ .. '" " - ~ ~ > > 0 ci _ _ _ _ _ - _ N ~ ~ . :z ~ .< ~ 8888eeGEB ®@ @©0®®@®®®@@ 0 ~ ,; ~ <, Q ~ 0 0 ~ ~ , > • . < .0 0 ~ ~ ffi 'l. ~ < oct: '.l ~ ~ ~ ~ •" ~ m >;. oct: '"i ~ I ~ ®®I oct: I)l(I' I )/ -N Z I 8 IJ,~ o ~ BODHAN TA L UK 'ifi)opperga - Situated at a distance of about 3 The total popUlation of the village is 2,293 and CA' miles from Bodhan Railway Station. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Hindus - Brahmin, Kapu, Yadava, Padmasale, The total population of the village is 666 and it Chakali, Mangali, Boya, etc.; Scheduled Castes is made up of several communities of Caste Hindus; ~322)-Mala, Madiga, etc.; Christians and Muslims. Scheduled Castes (193). The chief means of liveli The chief meanS of livelihood of thc people are hood of the people is agriculture. agriculture, agricultural labour and other tradi· tiona 1 occupations. Narasimhaswam.y festival is celebrated for one da y in Asuiyujam (September-October). 500 local Hin The temples of Rama, Anjaneya and Siva are dus congregate. the places of worship here. SOURCE: Statement nf Fairs and Festivals furnished by Ntelakanteswara uthsavam is celebrated for 5 days Superinlclldent oj Police, Ni::,amabad from .Magha Bakula Dasami to Amavasya (January February). This festival is being celebrated for the 2. Hangarga - Situated at a distance of about 9 past 50 years and is of local significance. Pujari is miles [rom Bodhan Railway Station. a Brahmin of Vasishta gatram enj/)ying in:lln land. Prasadam is distributed to all and there is free feed The total population of the village is 907 and ing. Jagaram is observed. it is made up of several communities of Caste Hin dus; Scheduled Castes (133); and Muslims. The Srirama Navami is celebrated fnr 10 days from chief means of livelihood of the people is agricul Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Dasomi (March-A.prjl). ture. This is being celebrated for the past fifty years Lut is of local significance. PllJari is a Brahmin of Shah Hussain Saheb urs is celebrated for one day Koundinyasa .gotram enjoying InZlm land. There is on 16th Az;ur (October). 1,000 local devotees free feeding for a day Jagaram is observed. irrespective of caste or creed congregate. Hanumalljayanti is also celcbrctted for one day in SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and Festivals furnished by Chaitram (March-April). Prasadam is distributed and Collector, Nizanzabad free feeding is arranged. 3. Khandakurthi-Situated at a distance of 10 SOURCE: Sri P. Govinda Redd_y, Patwari, Neera miles from Bodhan Railway Station. 5. Ranjal-Situated at a distance of about 5 miles The total population of the village is 2,100 and from Yedpalle Railway Station and 6 miles from it is made up of several communities of Caste Bodhan. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (295). The chief means of their livelihood is agriculture. The total population of the village is 5,293 and it is made up of several commnnities of Caste Hin Srirama Navami is celebrated for a day on dus; Schf'duled Castes (646). The chief means of Chailra Suddha Nauami (March-April). 1,000 local livelihood of the people is agriculture. people of all communities participate. Neelakallte5waraswamy fest:val is celebrated for a SOiJRCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by day on Phl1lgulla Bahula Ekadasi (February-March). Colleclor, Nizamabad About 500 Hindus of the vilbgc congrcgZlte. 4. Neela-Situated at a distance of 8 miles from SOURCE: Statement of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Bodhan Railway Station. Collector, Nizamabad 46 SECTION VII 6. PegadpaIJe- Situated at a distance of 6 miles ago when a shepherd was grazing his sheep, an old from Bodhan Railway Station. man came to him and asked for water. After drinking the water, he asked the shepherd to cons The total population of the village is 1,275 and truct a Darga for him and disappeared. The Darga it is made up of several c()mmunities of Caste Hin was constructed accordin~ly and the tomb or the dus; Scheduled C;}stes (137). The chief means of saint is looked upon as a place of wonhip. livelih:JOd of the people is agriculture. BhflZ'a!.i jatara is celebrated for one day on Budan Peer urs is celebrated for a day in 1\1arch Chaitra SI/dd/za Purnima (March-April). 400 10caJ April. Police Patel and Mali Patel first sacrifice devotees or all communities participate. goats to the memory oj' the saint. The devotees take river bath and observe fasting. This urs is SOURCE: Statement (if Fairs and FC5tiva!s furnished by 50 years old. People from the nearby villages als'o Collector, Ni::,amabad partlclpate in it. Kurumas arc the chief patrons. 2,000 devotees local and from neighbouring villages 7. Salora-Situated at a distance of 5 miles from congregate. Pujari is a Kuruma with hereditary Bodhan Railway Station. rights. There is free feeding to MaJas and Madigas by Kurumas. The total population of the village is 3,733 and it is made"up of several communities of Caste Hin A fair is held in this connection with a few dus: Scheduled Castes (458). The chief means of shops selling eatables, lanterns, photos, books and livelihood of the people is agriculture. clay and wooden toys. People from clistant villages come here in bullock carts and on horse back. RajeswaraSl.cam_f" festi1'Ol is celehrated for one day About 40o~ of the devotees would be women. on Chaitra Suddha Navami (March-April). 300 devo tees of all communities participate. SOURCE: An tJlumerator SmcRCE: Stat ment of Fairs and Festivals furnished by Collector, Nizamabad 9. Bodhan-is the taluk headquarters and a termi nal station ofNizamabad-Bodhan railway line of the 8. Mandharna - Situated at a distance of 5 miles South Central Railway. from Salora and about 10 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. "Podana is easily identified with Bodhan in the Nizamabad District of Hydnabad. This is a place with ancient associations, and an inscription of A. D. The total popu lation of the village is 725 and 1056, mentions the construction of a temple of Vishnu in that town by the Rastrakuta Indra III Its it is made up of the following communities: Caste location. taken along with the provenance of the three Hindus-Banjari, Kapu, Kammara, Lingayat, Kum i, script ions of the \' emulavada Chalukyas, leaves little room for doubt that the centre of activity of the mari, Kamsali, }'langali, Golla, Kuruma, etc.; successors of Yuddhamalla 1, if not of Yuddhamalla Scheduled Castes (213)-Mala, Madiga, etc.; and himself, must be located in the eastern half of Hvderabad known as Tclingana ; and Podona may be Muslims. The chief means of liyelihood of the taken to mark a stage in this progress towards the people are agriculture, agri cui tural la bou rand east. Certain other facts tend to confirm this view. Tile Kolliflura plates record a grant to a Saiva ascetic other traditional occupations. of Eleswara to the north of the celebrated mountain Srisaila in the Kurnool District. The temple of Aditya The temples of Hanuman and Siva are the pla mentioned in the Vcmulavada inscription and the land granted to it, both lay in Vemlllavad itself; and ces of worship for Hindus while a Darga of Budan in the Parbhani plates this city is expressly described Peer with the tomb of the saint is the place of as the rnjlldham (capital) of Arikesari III. It is almost certain that Vemulavada became the headquarters of worship for both Muslims and Hindus in this this bTanch of the Chalukyas at an early stage, village. probably under Arikesari 1. It is quite likely, there fore. that a little earlier. towards the end of his career, YlIddharnalla accepted a fief in the neighbourhood of The story connected with the construction of Bodhan as a reward of his services to Dantidurga and that this territory subsequently became the base for the Darga is simple and is as follows. Fifty yean the further achievements of the dynasty". I. The Early History of the Deccan-Edited by G. Yazdani pp 507-508 BODHAN TALL~K 47 There are indications that the place had a his Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Kamma, Mar to, ical past wi th gTeat Saivite influence. Around wari, Lingayat, Clukali, :Mangali, Kamsali; ",hat j, known as the fort area, there appearecl to Scheduled Castes (3,540) - )'1ala, ~1adiga, etc.; ha\'e been a fort with holes in the walls through Scheduled Tribes (IO)-Lambadi; Christians and \\'11ich the inv:,ders alll: marauders were shut with Muslims. The chief means of their livelihood are gUllS. A moat aruund the fort filled with water agriculture, agricultural lahour, trade, labour in pruvided securi ty to the furt. The fort had four gates sugar factory, and other traditional occupations. un four sides. It is said th"t in the past the pbce The Nizam Sugar Fact(>ty at Bodhan is one of the \\'c;it by the name B:dlUdhanyapuram (place of biggest sugar faetorie~ in l\sia having an installed jJl'vfuse grain) and Bahudhar,apuram (place of capacity of 3.750 tons of cane-crushing per day. It prosperity) . employs 2,400 workers in the factory and 15,000 workers on the farm. I t produces one ~ixth of the The puranic legend is that it was Ekachakra total quantity of sugar manufactured in India. puram where Bheema, second of the Pandavas, Inscriptions or the Rashtrakuta period can be seen killeu Bakasura. Kauravas, envious of the superior in this town. strength of Panda vas attempted to burn them in Lakshagrztha (house constructed with lac for a night's The Siva temple is an ancient and important sojourn of the Pandavas). Lord Krishna the pro one from the days of yore. The Siualingam is believed tector of the Pandavas, knew the plot, and got dug a to have been installed by Dharmaraja during his tunnel for Pand;,-,'as to escape. He desired them stay here in the disguise of Brahmin. The lingllm to spend a year in the disguise of Brahmins to allow is about two 1'.2et in height and 2t fcet in diameter. the Ka urava s to be under a fal se i IT' pression that It is made of black and shining stone with a massive they were burnt to ashes and to surprise them at the panivatlam. It is of rccent excavation. In fact it swa)'amvaram of Draupadi. They were thus living in appears that Hindus themselves voluntarily buried this area uegging food from door to door. There it under a huge mound of earth in order to was an understanding between a Rakshasa named save it from the l\fuslim invaders. The lingam, Bakasura and the residents of the place that the temple and the tower were completely buried under former should be supplied daily with a cart load of earth for years together and the subsequent genera· food, two hf-buffaloes and a driver for his food lest tions took' it to be a hillock, not of stone but of mud. he should indiscriminately harass the people of the One Sri Kota Ramiredcly was very much impressed village. When the turn came to the Brahmin family \\' ith tbe commanding elevation of this huge mound with whom the Pandavas were living they were in a and desired to level it into rectangular form and Jilemma as to who should become food for the have a park there. Sri Venkatrao, the local Rakshasa. Bhima volunteered to drive the cart to auvocate who was then Chairman of the municipality the Raksham happy over the thought that he would permitted Sri Ramireddy to carry out his plan au enjoy the feast of a cart load of food. He reached his depositing thousand rupees as security for the the place fixed for the Rakshasa' 5 daily feast and due execution of the work and to cover the loss to consumed the entire lot of food even before the :\Iunicipality, if any. Sri Ramireddy invested over Rakshasa came there. In the fight that ensued two thousand rupees and began to level the top between them, Bhima killed the: Rakshasa. In with a bulldozer. During the operation a big stone support of this legend, there is a temple of BhiJIla was thrown out and on examination, some curving in the place and a locality whic h is belieyed to have was found on it. It could easily be seen that the been the spot where the Raks/zasa received his dail v stone must have formed part of the ceiling of a ration. It is even now called Rakkasptt. Chckkithala~ Hindu temple. The wurk was suspended temporarily (Ekaehakra-theertham) and Dharmatheertham, when there was a change in the Chairmanship of the pond named after Dharmaraju support the the municipality. When Sri Venkatrao was reelec legend. The Sivcllingtzm of which details are given ted as the Chairman the work was renewed, more and Gclow is believed to have been established by more men were engaged, earth was slowly and care Dharmaraja. fully removed from the top. A decent and strong stone tower was unearthed with slight damage to the ceil The tot.al population of the place is 33,178 and ing by the bulldozer. To the eeestacy of the people it is made up of the following communities: Caste a smooth and clear top of a Sivalingam of shining 48 SECTION VII black stone was discovered. The Sivalingam and SOL'RCE 1. Sri Drsai Yageswara Rao, Sanitary Inspe panuvattam were completely cleared and while remov ctor, Bodhall ing the earth on all the sides, the four walls of the 2. Places of Interest ill Alldhra Pradesh, publi sanctum sanctorum and its entrance were discovered. shed b)' the lufurmatioll and Public Rela The work waS continued and the compact but strong tioTls Deparlnll'1lt, J-iydcrabad sanctum sanctorllm with walls, door, lingam and panuvattam and the gopuram werc recovered. Devotees 3' LiJt oj C/SIlS, Melas, JatlOs in H. E. H. came forward with contributions and the lucal sugar the /'{IZ:lJll'S Dominions, by Sri .Hazhar factory c::mtribllted IL;. :1,000 towards additions and Hussain improvements to the temple. 10. Ambam- Situated at a distance of 8 miles I'rom Budltan Railway Station. The tem~le of Sri Rama with the marble images of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, Narasimha The total pupulation of the village is 1,038 and swamy, Gopala Krishna and Bhavani are the other it is made up of the following communities: Caste important places of worship for Hindw; in this Hindus - Perika, Golla, Gundla, Vaisya, Lingayat, tOWIl. The Jamma ~IJsjid and Darga of Syecl Jalal Kummari, Kuruma, Tenugu; Scheduled Castes (221) Bukkasi are the pLlces of worship fur the ~IusLms. -~lala, Madiga. The chief means of livelihood of the peoplc are agriculture, agricultural labour, Sivaratri is celebrated for one day on "Jag/Ill trade, fishing, sheep-rearing and other traditional Bahu!a Chalurdosi (Jalluary-February). Fasting and occupations. jagarana are observed. Cocoanut3, flowers and fruits are offered. This is being celebrated for the past Gajjalamma temple with Her awe-inspIring six years and is confined to this and neighbouring wooden imnge in feminine form beautifully painted villages. Sri Venk:ltarao is the trustee for the temple with colours ~U1d ~[ahalakshmi temple are the pla and he conduct, festival with public subscriptiuns. ces of worship in this village. Hanuman and Vigh 10,000 Hindu local and from the neighbouring neswara are also worshipped. villages congregate. Pujaris are Bra hl11ins. Gajjalamma uthsavam is celebrated for the welfare A fail' is held in this connecti()ll it)!' 3 (la ys near of the village for 2 days on Kartika Suddha Purnima the temple with a few shops selling eatables, and Bahula Pad.vami (October-:~ovember). Jatara utensils, lanterns, mirrors, combs, pictures, photos and aradhallG are celebrated on the first and second and toys. days respectively. Deity is taken in a procession on the second day on a \\'(){Jden chariot to the Pandals are erected, Harikathas and music per temple of Anjaneyaswamy. Fasting is observed. formances are arranged which ailtJl'u entertainment Fowls and sheep are sacrificed to the deity. This to the visitors. is an ancient festival confined to this and a few nearby villages. The villagers are the patrons. Gopala Klishila uthsavam is celebrated for one Devotees of all communities local and from d lyon Sravana SZJddha Dasami (July-August). A neighbouring villages congregate. There is no congregation of about 50U local people of all com specific pujari. munities witness the celebr~1.tion~. A fair is held in this connection on the second Bhavanijatara celebrated for a day on Asvij'uja day of (iradhaJ/a in an area of alJout 400 sq. yards. Suddha Panchanll (September-October) with the local Traders come from the nearby villages like Kotagiri congreg.ttion. .\1ia'l .Hasum Saheb urs celebrated for and Rudrur. Eat:lu]es, utensils, lanterns, mirrors, a clay on 4th ,\Juha/ram are yet an other festivals of combs, pictures, toys and clnthes are sold. the town. SOURCE: Sri D. Lakshminarahari. Teacher, Go;;ernment Elfl1l~/dar)' School. An/bam S_yed Jal'll Bukkari urs IS celebrated for 2 days from 15th SaLlr. :2,OUO devutees local and from the 11. Jnnkampet - is a Railway Station on Kache neighbouring villages congregate. All communi guda-~Ianmad mC'tre gauge of the South central ties participate. Railway. BGDHAN TALUK 49 The total population of the village is 2,305 and SOURCE: 1. S'a'em:nt of Fairs and Festivals furnished it is made up of several communities of Caste by Tahsildar, Bodhan Hindus; Scheduled Castes (330). The chief means 2. List of Ursus, Melas, Jataras, etc., in the of livelihood of the people is agriculture. H. E. H. Ni::;am's Dominions by Mazhar Hursain Narasimhaswamy ftStival is celebrated for 2 days on JIagha Bah,,/a Cflaturdasi and Amavasya (J anuary 14. Mosra - Situated at a distance of 7 miles February). 2,000 people of all communities local from Bodhan Railway Station. and from neighbouring villages congregate. The total population of thc village is 3,979 and A few shops are opened in this connection by it is made up of the following communities: Caste the local tradesmen. Hindus-Brahmin, Vaisya, Kamma, Reddy, Kapu, Tahar Sahcb urs is celebrated for a day on 5th Vaddera, Tenugu, Lambadi, etc.; Scheduled Khurdad, i. e., Chaitra Suddha Pad),ami (March-April). Castes (339)-Mala, :Madiga; Christians and Muslims. Local people of all communities participate. The chief means of livelihood of the people are agriculture, agricultural labour, trade and other SOURCE: J. Statement of Fairs and Festivalsfurnished traditional occupations. by Tahsildar, Bodhan 2. List of Afelas, Ursus, Jataras, etc., in Srirama temple to the north of the village with H. E. H. Ni::;rtm's Dominions by AIa::;har the marble images of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hussain Anjaneya, and the brass images which are taken in procession, the temples of Hanuman, Mysamma, 12. Pedda Thana (Thana Kalan) - Situated at a Pochamma, a church and a mosque are the places distance of 3 miles from Jankampet Railway of worship. Station. Srirama Navami is celebrated lor 7 days from The total population of the village is 2,905 and Chaitra Suddha }.-avami to Purnima (March-April). Fes it is made up of several communities of Caste tival arrangements are made 4 dars in advance. Hindus; Scheduled Castes (704;; and Muslims. Srirama Jayanti on _\ avami, procession 011 Dasami, The chief means of livelihood of the people is kalyanam on Ekadasi and rathothsrzvam on Purnima are agriculture. the main functions. Bhajans, harathis and pujas are Shazk Fareed Saheb urs is celebrated for a day on performed on the remaining Jays. Cocoanuts, fruits, 27th Safar. 200 local devotees of all communities flowers and money are offered. The people deco participate. rate their houses, wear new clothes and observe fasting. This festival is being celebrated for the SOt:RCE: List of Ursus, Afelas, Jataras, etc., in H.E.H. past 15 years and is confined to this 'and the nearby Ni::;am's Dominions by fl,Ia:;.har Hussain villages. The chiefpatrons and followers are Vaisyas, Kapus and Kammas. About 5,000 devotees local 13. Kurnapalle - Situated at a distance of 6 miles and from the neighbouring villages, like Chandur, from Bodhan Railway Station. Chintagunta, Kothapet, Amdapur, Kornapalle, Muthakunta, Govoor etc., congregate irrespective The total popUlation of the village is 1,894 and of caste or creed. Pujari is Narasimhachari, a it is made up of the several communities of Caste Vaishnava of Sandilya gotram. Prasadam is distributed Hindus; Scheduled Castes (205); and MU3lims. The to all and there is free feeding for a day during the chief means of livelihood of the people is agriculture. period. MahadevJatara is celebrated fJr one day on }vlagha Bahula Vidiya (January-February). 500 local people A fair is held in this connection near the temple of all communiticb participate. in an area of 3 acres for the past 15 years. About 5,000 people, local and from distant places congre Syed HabIb Salub urs is celebrated for one day on gate. Eatables, utensils, lanterns, mirrors and the 30th Zeekhad and the saint is worshipped. 300 combs, Ayurvedic medicines, pictures and photos, local people of all communities congregate. clothes, toys, etc" are sold. 50 SECTION VII Special pandals ::ire erected. Dramas, swings, Decemher 1958. This station started in 1931 is engaged in conducting research on variety of agricul gambling and lottery afford entertainment to the tural problems with special emphasIs un sugarcane visitors. Competitions in wrestling are held and and paddy, the two main crops grown under the N izamsagar project area. The farm area under the the winners are awarded prizes by collecting money s ta t ion is 149 acre's." from the villagers. People of the neighbouring Maharashtra State also p:lfticipate. Carts are The total population of the village is 5,670 and decorJ.ted and taken rou!l(I the temple 5 times. it is made up of the following communities: Caste Prizes are distri buted to the best decorated carts. Hindus~Brahmin. Fishermen, Kapu, Golla, Avu sub, Kall1!l1ara, VacUa, Kummari, l'vledara, etc.; SOURCE: 1. Sri D. V. l\Iaihusudan, Teacher, Afosra Scheduled Castes (453 )-).lala, ~ladig;l; .Muslims 2. Sri C. S Ramachandra Rao, Village Lev"l and Christians. The chief means of their livelihood Worker. Alosra arc agriculture, agricultural labour, trade and employment. 15. San~am-Situated at a distance of 4 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. This is the place Venkateswaraswamy temple with His image in of confluence of 3 small tributaries and hence it is human form, Vitaleswaraswamy temple, and a called Sangam. musque are the places of worship in this village. The total population of the village is 1,033 and Venkateswaraswamy uthsavam is celebrated for two it is made up of the following communllles; C I. Places of Interest in A71dhra Pradesh, published by Director of Information and Public Relations Department, Andhra Pradesh BOD HAN TALUK 5 i Raval Saheb 1I1alik urs is celebrated for one day The total population of the village is 1,090 awl in :?:Jlhaj. 1,000 loc;:d devotees of all communities it is m:"de up of the followim; communities: Caste participate. Hindus-:l\Iotati Kapu, Pr,dm::lscde, Kamman!, Vadrangi, KamsClli, Tcnugu, Vaisy~" Golla, SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and FtSlivalsfllrnished by Lingayat; Scheduled Castes (182j--.:\Iala,).Iadiga; SuperinttnJent oj Police, Ni;:.amabad and l\Iuslims. The chief mean:; of livelihood of the people is agriculture. 18. Kotgir-Situated at a distance of 7 miles from Bodh:lll Railway Station. The temples of Lakshamma, Gajjelamma, The total population of the village is 5.883 and Pochamma and Hanuman with the stone image in human form are the places of worship in this it is made up of several communities of C~stc Hi n dus; Scheduled Castes (451); and Muslims The village. chief means of livelihood of the people are agricul Hanumanjayanti uthsavam is cdcbratcd for a day ture, agricultural labour and other traditional on Chaitra Suddha Purnima (March- '\ pri I). Cocoa occupations. nuts and naivedyam are offered, BhC'jan is performed Vitaleswaras\,,'amy temple, Nagareswaraswamy in the night. It is being cele bra ted for the past 25 temple, ~iIanikya Prabhu temple, 7 bhajan mandirs years and confined to the nearhy villages. The and 4- mosques are the places of worship in this villagers are the patrons. 800 devotees I,Jeal and village. from the neighbouring villages congregate. All communities participate. Pujari is a J~Hl~am, Prasadam Panduranga bhajan f are performed in Vitaleswara is distributed to all. On Chaitra Sudrlfta Padyami sW8my temple, twice a year for 5 days from artlkaK (l\brch-April) communi ty dinner is arranged. Suddha Ekadasi to l'urnima (October-November) and in Ashadam (June-July). Fasting is observed. The A fair is held since 20 years in this connection. local Hindus congregate. Shivu Sakaram is the for one day near the temple. 800 people of this and pujari. the surrounding villages con~rcgate. Eatables, Dundul Mia jatara is ce lebrated by the Muslims utensils, lanterns, mirrors and combs, Ayurvedic for one day. 2,000 devotees of all communities from medicines, pictures, photos, cloth, clothes, animals this and the neighbouri ng villages within a radius and toys are sold. of 10 miles congregate. A few shops are raised for the occasion to sell eatables and toys, etc. Ganapathi uthsavam is celebrated for 15 days from Badrapada Suddha Padyami to Purnima (August-Septem SOURCE: Sri K. V. Subba Reddy, Teacher, Kotgir ber). Cocoanuts are offered. This festival is just a year old and the local Hindus participate. Kapus, 19. Pothangal- Situated at a distance of about Vaisyas and Lingayats are the patrons. Prasadam 10 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. is distributed to all. Harikatha is arranged to enter tain the visitors. The total population of the village is 3,710 and it is made up of several communities of Caste River bath is taken and fasting and ja;;arana are Hindus; and Scheduled Castes (317). The chief observed duging Sivaratri. means of livelihood of the people is agricultme. SOURCE: 1. Sri D. Krishna, Teacher, Cr:vernmnil Lingamayya jatara is celebrated for a day Il1 Primary School, Kallur Bhadrapadam (August-September). 10,000 devotees local and from distant places also congregate 2' Sri Narayan, Assistant Teacher, Katlur irrespective of caste or creed. 21. Varni - Situated at a distance of 8 miles from SOURCE: Statement oj Fairs and Festivals furnished by Jankampet Railway Station. Superintendent oj Police, Nizamabad The total population of the village is 3,84-2 and 20. Kallur - Situated at a distance of 3 miles from it is made up of several communities of Caste Bodhan-Pothangal motor route and 12 miles from Hindus; Scheduled C.1stes (287). The chief means Bodhan. of their livelihood is agriculture. 52 SECTION VII VeerabhadraswamyJestival is celebrated for one day and offerings are made by the devotees. This is on Phalguna Baku!a Ekadasi (February-March). 300 an ancient festival confined to this village. The local devotees congregate irrespective of caste or patrons are the villagers. Pujari is a Brahmin with creed. hereditary rights. Prasadam is distributed to all and there is free feeding. Puranam and harikatha kala SOURCE: Statement if Fairs and Festivals Jurnished by Srlperintendent oj Police, N'izamabad kshepams are arranged in the evenings during the uthsallam. Situated at a distance of 3 furlongs 22. Govoor - Devotees take river bath and observe fasting from a bus stage on Nizamabad-Bodhan bus route and jagaram during the period. and 7 miles from Bodhan Railway Station. A J agirdar is believed to have founded this village. Jatara at Hanuman temple is celebrated for a day during the uthsavam. The total population of the village is 1,682 and it is made up of the following communi ties: Caste Vighneswara pu,ia is performed on Bhadrapada Hilldus~Brahmin, Vaisya, Kapu, Reddy, Bcstha, Suddha Chaviti (September-October). The Lord is TeLugu; Scheduled Castes (327) - Mala, Madiga; taken in a procession to a nearby tank and is and ]\{uslims. The chief means of their livelihood immersed in the water. This is confined to the are agriculture, trade and oth'er traditional occupa village, The festival is celebrated by collecting tions. subscriptions from the villagers. Local Hindus congregate. Tcmples of Rama and Hanuman are the places of worship. Sri Narasimha jayanti, J\'ogula Pa'lchami :md Hanumall ja}antz' are also celebrated. Srirama Nallami uthsallam is celebrated for 10 days frum Chaitra Suddha Padyami to Dasami (March SODRCE: 1. Sri P. Yadagiri Sanna, Teacher, couoor April) on a grand scale. Festival arrangements are 2. Stafemtnt oj Fairs & FUlivals furnisi,ed made fifteen days in advance. Vows are fulfilled by Superintendtnt [if Police, Nizamabad APPENDICES APPENDIX I CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS COMMONLY OBSERVED IN NIZAMABAD DISTRICT S. No. Name of the Tidhi in Telugu Corresponding English festival month Month (1) (2) (3) (4) HINDU FESTIVALS I Ugadi (Tclugu Ne",' Year's Day) Chaitra Suddha Padyami March-April 2 Sri Rama Navami Chaitra Suddha Navami March-April 3 Nagula Chaviti Sravana Suddha Chaviti July-August 4 Vamlakshmi Vratam 2nd Friday in Sravanam July-August 5 Sri Krishna Jayanti Sravana Bahula Ashtami July-August 6 Vina)'aka Chaviti Bhadrapada Suddha Chaviti August-September 7 Mahalaya Amavasya Bhadrapada Amavasya September-October (New Moon Day) 8 Dasara Asvlyuja Suddha Padyami to September-October Dasmi 9 Deepavali Asviyuja Bahula Chaturdasi to September-October Amavasya 10 Dhanalakshmi Puja Asviyuja Bahula Amavasya September-October 11 Subrahmanya Shashti Margasira Suddha Shashti November-December 12 Sankranti Pushyam (Makara Sankaramanam) 13th to 15th January 13 Bhishma Ekadasi Magha Suddha Ekadasi January--February 14 .Haha Sivaratri Magha Bahula Chaturdasi January-February 15 Kamadahanam Phluguna Suddha Triodasi February-March 16 Holi Phalguna Suddha Purnima February-March (Full Moon Da y) MUSLIM FESTIVALS Date in Mmlim month (Hijri) 1 Ramzan (Id-ul-Fitr) 1st day of Shavval 2 Bakrid 10th of Z,ilhaj 3 Moharram 10th oflvloharram 4 Milad-un-Nabi 12th of Rabi-ul·Avval 5 Peer-e-Dastagiri 11 th of Rabi-u s-Sani 6 Shab-e-Barat 11 th of Shahban CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS DATE IN ENGLISH MONTH 1 New Year's Day ... 1st January ·2 Good Friday On a Friday in April 3 Christmas 25th December NOTE;-In addition to the above festivals, the National festivals viz, (1) Republic Day, (26th January), (2) Independence Day, (15th August) and (3) Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) are celebrated in Nizamabad District. [ 4 ] APPENDIX I COMMON HINDU FESTIVALS 111 front with rangavalli (ornamental lines, figures and designs drawn with chunnam or rice flour) take 1. Ugadi - (Telugu New Year's Day) is celebra oil bath and generally put on new clothes except ted on Chaitra Suddha Pad}'ami (March-April) by the poor class. One cmtom special in the district every Hindu Andhra whether rich or poor. As it is the hoisting of a flag in temples on the morning is the supposed anniversary of the creation or the of the New Year's day. At home, they decorate a firstday of the Satya Yuga1 great sanctity is attached small stick with silk clothes and place a small vessel to th is festival. This is a great day of joy and on its top mouth downwards, decorate it with happiness, concord, affectiOl~ and goodwill. There vib!mti, pajupu and kumkum, call it as the kalasam of is a strong belief that this day's happenings fore the day, worship it and offer fruits and sweets. It bode and colour the course of events in the entire nced hardly be said that Ugadi is the festival of year a head. People naturally like pleasant things Villagers. The housewives in the villages get up to happen to them on this day so that they may be early in the morning and commence cooking sweets h:-1PPY throughout the year. Hence they take care and SIde dishes. Festoons (usually made up of to keep themselves and others in a happy mood on green mango leaves) are tied to the front door and the Ugadi day. A child's demand, reasonable or al so to the other doors inside. Besides bakshyam or unreasonable is met though grudgingly lest the other sweets, the special preparation called Ugadi family should be burdened with a weeping child Pachchadi or chedu or gojju is tasted by everyone throughout the year. Every effort is made to avoid before taking the first morsel of the day. Generally tears and sad thoughts on this day. A sincere it is a semi-liquid preparation with new tamarind, attempt is made to maintain a clean mind free from fresh mango, water, new jaggery or sugar and cer foul thoughts aud ill-will towards others. tain condiments, the chief ingredient being the petals of fresh margosa flowers. Even the poorest The years in Telugu calendar are not mere man does not fail to take in a few petals of margo sa numbers like 1961, 1962, etc.) with no Significance flowers with jaggery. The poorer class in the and no end. They recur in a cycle of sixty (60) villages do not bother themselves with the several years and the year's possibilities can be foreseen side dishes which the more fortunate upper classes with reference to its performance in the past cycles. can afford to have. The significance of taking in They have specific names indicating something margosa flowers which are bitter along with jaggery pLeasent (Subhakruthu) , anger (Krodhi), disgrace, which is sweet is apparently to make people realise defeat or disappointment (Prabhava), enmity (Virodhi) and reconcile to the fact that life is a mixture of and so on. vVhy and how this cycle and the names sorrows and joys. In some places hotels serve a are fixed is a topic for research fDr genera ti ons. little of this vepaprasadam before serving the menu vVhatever be the indication of the name of the New ordered. Year, it must be properly invited and inagurated. All that the people can do is to be happy and In towns and bigger places the day is of normal thankful to the Lord when a year like Subhakruthu festivity and enjoyment till the evening. But in All persons get up early in the morning, clean Panchanga Sravanam in the evening is universally the houses, de~orate the floor inside the house and observed by the rich and poor alike in all towns 1. Yuga is an age, especially a sub-division of the life of Universe. The first is called Kritayuga (~atya-yuga)to which the Hindus assign I. 728,000 years. The second called Treta-yuga lasted a?~ut ~.296,000 ze:;.rs; The third called D~apara-yu!5.a lasted about 864.000 years; and the last in which we are now hvmg IS called li.alz-yuga or the age of Misery. It IS expected to last for about 432.000 years. COMMON FESTIVALS [ 5 ] and villages. Hindus gather in temples, in towns and Rama are worshipped according to prescribed and at the rachchaklltta or rachchabanda (the village rites. This is a common Hindu festival but cele community platform) or the temple in the villages. brated chiefly by Brahmins, Vaisyas and other well The new pallchangam (alamanac) is wonhipped and to do families among the Hindus. Fast during the read by the purohit. The general influence of the day by several people and jagarana during the night pLtnets during the New Year over the local Gods, by some are observed. In the temples of Srirama, men, cattle, crops, diseases, etc., and on particular pa!tabhisJukam (coronation) of Sri Rama is celebra individuals are given out by the purohit. The ted and his image or picture is taken in procession presiding deity during the year over wind, rain, in which all Hindus particip.lte. It is not a sectarian crops, cattle, health, etc., are also announced festival conlined to only Vaishnavities. In the eve together with the effects and percentages of yield nings distribution of panllkam and panneram in Sri of crops of different varieties. The functions in towns Rama temples and in the houses is common. during the night are ~the procession of Gods and Bamboo fans are distributed to Brahmins. On the kathakalakshepams in the usuai manner. But the next day, i. e., on Dasami there is anna santharpana enjoyment in the village is continuous and enthusi (community feeding) in Sri Rama temples. In the astic. houses also feasts are arranged. In some centres the celebrations commence on Chaitra Suddha Padyami The New Year's Day has a special significance held and pattabhishekam being on Navami conclude for the village ryot. He inaugurates the annual on Purnima with car festival. cultivation by ploughing five or nine rounds in his fields, either on the first day or the day advised by There is not generally any family that does not the village purohit to be a uspicious according to prepare panaka", and vadapappu and that does not one's name. At times this is prolonged till Eruvaka break a cocoanu t in the nearest Sri Rama or Hanu Purnima, i. e., Ashadha Suddha Purnima (June-July). man temple. The poor have a feeling of festivity The yoke and the plough and the bulls are worship and sacredness of the day and observe it with ped after applying vibhllthi, turmeric and vermilion sincere devotion to Lord Rama contending them and a cocoanut is broken either at the house or in selves by attending the kalyanothsavam, procession or the field. harikathas. In some places there is free distribution of vadapappu and panakam on Ekadasi besides free 2. Sri Rama Navami is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha feeding on a decent scale on Dwadasi. There will be Navami (March-April). Sri Rama, the God King procession of Sri Ram::!, sometimes accompanied by was born to Dasaratha, the King of Ayodhya, on music and fireworks. the ninth lunar day in the bright fortnight of the month Chaitra (March-April) in the Pllnarvasu lunar Lord Rama was born on Chaitra Suddha Navami asterism. This festival is the anniversary of that (March-April) and it is appropriate that His birth auspicious day. Rama as an ideal son, Bharatha day anniversary should be celebrated that day. and Lakshmana as ideal brothers, Sita as an ideal Great importance is attached to Sita Rama Kalyanam. wife are immortalised in the following: Ramadas is the standing example to be followed. It is that great devotee of Sri Rama who suffered "U":i).);:5oe3 §"""cDt;.), :;i6'; /C"fuLe()eJ.;)oe_, OJ';ll'~w, twelve years' imprisonment as a test for his devo Ramuvanti Koduku, Bharatha Soumitrula vanti Thammulu tion towards Sri Rama and set an example. Just ~u ~ oe:J ZYO S before Ramavathara, violence and counter violence Sita vanti bharya. were rampant disfiguring the earth with blood. The .;):JJ~ (ilio6J~, -eJ6.l -eJ6o~ destruction of Kartha Veeryarjuna, the hathya (kill· Vasudha yendunu, leru leranchu ing) of Jamadagni by a power blinded king and the o6J a:fuX 0 W eJ ;Q) OJ' eJ C>.':D.;-o;$:S " ~ lD~w ~ revenge of Jamadagni's Son Parasurama who massa Mundu Yugambula purushulu thalayupavalade cared the kingly line twentyone times, the autrocities ~ 5(9 o:f"6.l :5d..:il§,,",,;S;:5~~ of Ravana created a terror in the minds of sadhus and Areethi varu nadachu k~na valade. ,. sayjanas (peace loving and good natured perwns). On this day Sri Rama and his conSOrt Sita and They anxiously prayed for a satwagunayuktha shakthi to his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha, Shathrughna and establish santi (peace) by destroying the thamogunayutha his devoted Bhaktha Anjaneya are invoked. Sita rakshasa, Ravana. Rajogunayutha Janaka played his L 6 ) APPENDIX I part in the noble tc:sk by giving Sita in marriage to moon on Vinayaka ('ha\ iti in order to safe-guard Rama who was ill coronation of Vishnu. But for this' themselves against the evil effects of the sight of the alliance of Sri Rama and Sita, the destruction of Moon that day. Ravalla could not have been possible. Lord Rama exhibited His prowess by breaking the bow of Lord This festival is celebrated by one and all both Siva a symbul of rqjas (5 a,~ = combination of slltwa in town, and villages on a modest scale, the poor and thmas). He then married Sita, the symbol of classes contellding themselves wi th a sa I utation to sotwa in order to establish s(fll1hi, sath),am and ahimsa an ant-hill that is worshipped by some one else. (p'~ace, truth and non-violence). Gonds in this district generally re~ide in the In :Nizamabad district, Srirama Navami is in f'ores:-areas and they perform Nagapuja 011 a big Y.lriably inaugurated on Ch'litra Suddha Padyami scale and on several festive occasions. Nagula (:\Iarch-April) i c .. the Telugu New Year's Day and Panchami is a very important festival for them. continues up to Navami. Though the festival is not All chat they could claim their best in food, clothing celebrated on a large scale in the district in general and elljoyment is reserved for this occasion. Wheat it is a very popular festivaL even among the poor j)c,;)'asam and rice pudding are inevitable prepara villagers. At Bochan and Kizamabad the celebra tions and they are eaten togetlJer. Just as in several tion is on a large scale. other communities and during most of the festivals special items of food appear to be the main cri terion 3. Nagula Chavithi is observe'tl either on Sravana of a festival in this district. It is much more so in Suddha Chaviti (July-August) or Karlhikll Suddha Chaviti the case of ba ckward hi II tribes. (October .:. November) A person whose father, mother or any other relation happens to have died 4. Varalakshmi Vratam is celebrated on a Friday by snake bite is specially instructed to perform this in Srovanam (July-August), generally on the Friday ceremony, a part of which con,ists in offering milk preceding the Full 1\loon Day for prosperi ty and to snakes \\ ith the object of propitiating them. In for begetting worthy children based on the following this district it is performed only in Srav lllom both on legend. A Brahmin woman by name Padmavathi Chaviti and on Panchami. The obstrvance in this in the Kosala Kingdom was very pious, dutiful to district differs in more than one respect from that in her husband, hospitable to the sick, poor and oiher districts. In fact it is known more as Nagula needy. Goddess Varalakshmi p_ppeared before her Pancharni than as Nagula Chaviti. On Chaviti nine in a dream and ordained her t~ observe the Vara small nagulu (cobra s) aI e prepared wi th earth g'ene lakshmi urotam on the Friday preceding the Full rall y black cotton soil, placed on a clean plank and Moon Day in Sr::wanam. Accordingly she performed are worshipped with pasupu, kumkum, flowers and the vratam obtaining the permission of her husband. tiny silver eyes and hoods and finally bathed in The muthaiduva I get up before sunrise and bathe in fresh cow's milk. They fast the whole day. the nearby river or tank or well, clean the puja On the next day they go to the ant-hills, wor room and prepare a spot for the worship, smearing ship them with fiowers, pasupu, kumkum and tiny cow dung paste over it. The spot is decorated with silver eyes and hoods, pour fresh cow's milk into muggu (desi,gns with flour on the borders and the the ant-hill, break cocoanuts, offer f;uits, chalimidi, centres). Over t:1e central design a measure of etc, and do pradakshl1lams to the ant-hill. The pra rice is heaped and a kala Jam is kept over it. A small ctice of taking earth of the ant-hi 11 horne and dravv bamboo mantapalll covers the whole spot. Varamaha ing cobras on the walls is not ,nown in thi s district. lakshmi is invoked with mantrams and worshipped The practice of sisters offering this earth in the with flowers and naiv~d)'am of nine vari eties of prepa name of pu ttabangaru to brothers is also unknown. rations and the folloyving dhyanc.m. Only a little earth is taken and applied to persons who suffer from skin-diseases or ear-trouble. "job eJ&"~o, jC@;:S';:':Q.)J"O ~~~ ~Oil)JT ;JU"W"o One practice peculiar to this Nizamabad distriCt is Vande Lakshmim parasivamayim suddha Jamboo sdaabham iJr:\p;;r."o ",;JS j;:S'"",o ;;5Qt5 ",J"~aJ(l~oA,~ that jonna ptlolu (cholum fried and puffed) is pre -Cd .:. pared in every family, offered to Nagulu and the ant Thejorupam kanakavasanam swarna bhushojwalangeem hill and preserved till Vinayaka Chaviti. It is this D~;:\T'~o ~;JS ~ eJ'io -: -;iJ;j,:,\ca Q (';)0''-'''0 pelalu that are taken by those who happen to see the Beejapuram kana~a kalasam hemapadmam dadhanam COMMON FESTIVALS [ 7 1 The concerned legends recited and listened to. ~N'.s0 >{ ;;)!:·eJ eJ;;J~Q !.~ ..p;ipcS Jo c. Jananeem Vishnu vamanka 'Manvam shaklhim sakala 5. Sri KrishI}a Jayanthi is celebrated on Sravana ;,:)o;;Po .. CD Bahu!a Ashtami and Navami (July-August). The first samstbam day is Lord Krishna's birth day. Sri Maha Vishnu took this as his eighth incornation of His 10 auathars. Thev wear nine rounds of saffron coloured thread to their right wrists. MUlhaiJuvas (women in married According to Bhagavatha Purana, Kamsa, a status) are invited, haralhi is offered, flov\'ers and. demon, vowed to kill all the children born of his thambulam are distributed. Vayanams are given to a sister Devaki, because he was told that his destroyer few Brahmin ladies, keeping in a new winnow, would be born of her. Accordingly, he imprisoned fruits, flowers, thambulam, dakshina, new clothes and his sister Devaki and her husb:tnd Vasudeva and the nine varieties of preparations at the rate of kept strict vigilence over them. When Krishna twelve each and covering all with another new was born, Devaki immediatel y after her accouche winno\v. The festival is confined to Brahmins and ment fell asleep and a general torpor seized all the well to do Vaisyas. A few Veera Saiva and non guards at the prison, due to the spell known as Brahmin families also observe it as an annU31 festi Yogamaya l of Sri Krishna. During her sleep her val on one of these Fridays, based on a different husband, Vasudeva, carried away the new born legend, with slight modifications. The legend is baby from the prison where it was born to the that Veera Simha, the King of Maghada prayed house of Yasoda, with the wife of Nanda, on the Lord Siva to save his subjects from pests and otherside of the river Yamuna and from there famine. Lord Siva appeared before him in a dream brought a female child which he placed by the side and advised him about the efficacy of Sravana Sukra of his sleeping wife. The serpent King Vasuki Vara Vratham and ordained that the king, his queen, followed Vasudeva across Yamuna, with his hood children and all the subjects should perform the opened out to protect the infant God from the vratam. The observance resulted in relief and inclemency of the weather and it is said that the subsequent prosperity to the kingdom. In some river made way at the place where Vasudeva cases puja and_naivedyam are offered not to the kalasam crossed it. at home but to the Sivalingam in a temple. The following is the dhyanam adopted by this group of Sri Krishna was born during the night. The worshippers. general observance is to fast the whole day. His decorated image of His picture is kept in a craddle ";5~ ~ ;5;5,) ~ ;i)~<3;:) tor --" and worshipped indicating His birth. Some worship "Namasthe namasthe Mahadeva Sambho the figure of His mother Devaki sitting on a cot ;5;i, ~ ;:j;i) ~ I ;j;j~ . ~ ruo~ -0 -.D L .__ d. and feeding the baby. The following evening there Namasthe namasthe prasannaikabandho is a procession of the Lord and in every street of ;:j:iJ 1.J ;5;:;C1.J b o'5J";;p6~o~ this and other important towns there is a celebra --" -" Namasthe namasthe dayasarasindho tion of utiu, i. e., two vertical poles erected on ;5;i) 1.J ;5;i) 1.J ;i) ~, I either side of a road, a horizantal bamboo is tied --" -J> Namasthe namasthe Mahesaha across and a pully is fixed in the middle over which a rope is passed. To one end of the rope a small ~o:r-dXl g)~1P;,.t..dXl ~~ 6:;ooJ-oo"5J g)::). -gj . \.0 C 1. Yogama_va is personified delusion: the great illusory energy of Vishnu, b):' whoIl_l, the whole world is deluded. In the Markandeya Purana she appears as Durga, but in the Vishnu Purana as Valshna\'l, [ 8 ] APPENDIX I organised almost in every street of the town their house. It is also a practice to have darshan of throtikh which the procession of the God passes. at least 5 such images. Special preparations such Even in the towns though all the Hindus partici as undrallu, kudumulu that are supposed to be the pate in the procession, only the Vaishnavites and a favorites of Ganesa are prepared and· offered. On few of the other Hindus fast. In the villages one a subsequent day that is suitable to each family, the Dr two members in the Vaishnavite families fast and image is taken to a well or tank, worshipped there perform the festival in their homes. In a few places, and immersed in water. All Hindus under a the Krishna temples are first washed with jaggery superstitious belief avoid seeing the moon that water and then with plain water in the morning and day, to safeguard th¢mselves against unmerited the usual:_ functions held within the temple only. accusations during the subsequent twelve months. In villages vayanams are given to the Brahmin puro Ii by chance, they see the Moon they listen to the hits and jacket clothes to Brahmin muthaiduvas. legend of Sathrajit in which Lord Krishna was Vayanam is a day's ration, complete in itself with subjected to an accusation for having seen the refle- tamarind, salt and all kept in a new winnow and ction of the Moon that day in the cup of milk. By offered to a purohit. This festival is observed in doing so they are supposed to be absolved of the towns and in a few villages in the district. It is evil consequences of seeing the Moon. observed by all on a modest scale, with simple devotion and a feeling of festivity~ In Nizamabad district, though the festival does not rank with Dasara or Deepavali, the duration 6. Vinayaka Chaviti is a common Hindu festival of celebrations and the popular enthusiasm mark it celebrated by the rich and the poor of Hindu as a much awaited festival. In towns and villages community, th"e scale of celebrations depending on both rich and poor keep an image of Ganapathi made of clay and worship it. The celebrations are the social status of the family. This is celebrated spread over a period of eleven days, i. e., from on the fourth day of the birth fortnight in the Chaviti to Chaturdasi and it is prolonged to fifteen month of Bhadrapadam (August-September). days or even 21 days in important centres of big towns. Special and defferent offerings are made to Ganesa is the Hindu God of wisdom. All the idol throwout the period, undrallu being promi sacrifices and religious ceremonies, all serious nent on Chaviti. Harikathas and recitals of the story compositions in writing and all worldly affair-s of of Samanthakamani are the programmes of enter importance are begun by all Hindus w.ith an invo tainment during nights. The idol is taken in a pro cation to Ganesa, a word composed of isa, the cession on a decorated motor vehicle and immersed governor or leader, and gana, a company (of deities). in the nearby tank, river or well on the last day. He is represented as a short fat figure of yellow or red colour having four hands and the head of an Practically as a substitute for reciting or listen elephant with a single tusk. He is the s.on of ing the story of Satrajit to counteract the evil effects Parvati, who is supposed to have formed him from of seeing the Moon on Vinayaka Chaviti there is a the scurf of her body. There are many versions to practice of eating pelalu of chol urn (puffed .cholum) account for the formation of his head, one of which prepared during Nagula Panchami and preserved is that Siva beheaded him for disobeying his orders for the purpose till this day. "Kamareddy Gana but was requested to restore him to life, which waS pathi uthsavam" has become popular and weIl done only by the addition of a Sleeping elephant'S known in the district. At Kamareddy it is celebra head. He is represented as riding a rat. He is ted for nine days from Bhadrapada Suddha Chaviti the remover of all vighnams (obstacles) and is one of (August-September). Every sangham or society such the mos.t popular of Hindu deities. He is the as Ganju Varthaka SJ.nghaIll, Varthaka Sangam, patron of learning and is said to have written the Mahaveer Sangam, Mera Sangham, Vidyarthi Mahabharata to the dictation of the sage Vyasa. Sangam, Viswabrahm'ma; Sang ham, Rajaka The Ganesa or Vinayaka Chaturdhi is observed in Sangham, Gangaputra Sangham, etc., instal during commemora tion of the birth day of Ganesa. the period an image of the Lord in their centre and vie with each other in erecting panda Is, decorating Except the poorer classes, each house worships· them with festoons of paper of various colours and an eJ.rthen image of Lord Ganesa (Ganapathi) in illuminating witl). electric bulbs of defferent colours. COMMON FES1IVALS [ 9 ] ,Pandits, poets and relatives are invited and generations. back. By this act he establishes his arrangements are made for Purana kalakshepams, claim to inheritance. harikathas, dramas, bhajans and kolatams during the 2 whole period. The last day on which the idols from The fortnight is known as tarpana paksha (the fortnight of offerings), the ceremonies as sraddha3• all centres are taken for immersion ceremony in profusely decorated motor vehicles attracts thou In this district it is observed as an ordinary .sands of people from the outside towns and villages. festival by the Brahmin and Vaisya families. Offer As many as 6,000 pilgrims take part in this celebra ing pindams to the souls of the departed ancestor.S tion. The procession starts at about four in the are the functions of the day. Vaisyas also observe evening to be concluded onl y by the next morning. the festival in the same way. Some of the non 7. Mahalaya Amavasya is celebrated on Bhadra Brahmins content themselves by giving a Brahmin pada Bahula Amavasya (September-October). The da y a day's ration in the name of the departed ances of the New Moon in the month of Bhadrapadam tors. In fact this is the culminating day of a fort (September-October) when the Sun is in the sign night known as Mahalaya paksham or Mahalaya fort Virgo (kanya)is known as Mahala)la Amavasya. This night during which ceremonies for the departed day of the conjuction of the Sun and the Moon, is souls are performed. This is called in villages as considered by all Hindus to be especially set apart Pitharula Amasa, Petharla Amasa or PtddtJla Amasa. Some for the making of oblations ane performance of of the sudras believe that the souls of those that died religious cermonies to the pitrus or the spirits of during the year remain as spirits and join the ances departed ancestors. The Itihasa, a great authority tors only after the ceremony on Mahalaya AmavasYIl, on the religious rites of the Hindus, says They then feel that the dead have joined the that t!le moment the Sun enters, the sign Virgo ancestors. (kanya) the departed manes leaving the world of Some of these non-Brahmins and non-Vaisyas Yama, the Destroyer .come down to the world of man give a day's ration to a Jangam, in the name of the and occupy the houses of their descendents in the departed elders on Sravana Bahula Amavasya (July world. Therefore, the fortnight preceding the New August) terming it Pithrula A m:wasya. This practice Moon of the month of kanya is c')nsidered as prevails in areas where the influence of Jangams specially sacred to the. propitiation of the departed who have no belief in Ptthruloka has established itself. spirits. The ceremonies performed in their honour each day of the fortnight are considered to be equal 8. Dasara is a festival of 10 days from Asviyuja in merit to those performed in the sacred city of &~ddha J'adyami to Dasami (September-October). Gaya.! It is the special function of the nearest male relative of the deceased to make offerings It is believed tint it is the anniversary of the (pinda) to the ancestors in both lines for three d.lY when Bhagirath4 the ancestor of Sri Rama, 1. Every Hindu is enj~ined to vi,it Gaya at teast once in his life time t., perfurm the funeral ceremonies of his ancestors, and to offer pindas in their honour. 2 Generally speaking the tarpana cannot be perfl)rmed by a woman, by a man whose parents are alive or by a Brahmin not endowed with sacred thread. 3. According to the Hin days after Brathukamma reached her parent's home, " ;.'W €.J!;J ;;;n~ €.J!;J ~.. t9:5;) J e.J e.J cg her parents had to go to a neighbouring village. Muttaku muttaku rna amma Brathukamma and her sister-in-law were invited for :ll:>~~SJ ~ t9;i)~ some auspicious function by the neighbours. She Muttaboku rna amma wore one of the sister-in-Iaw's sarees for the occa .,.,,~~ :5E1;5 .::5 0:'0 {JoEl sion and it got soiled due to smearing of sandal e.J paste, saffron, etc. This was construed by the Papishti vadina champinchindi s-ister-in-Iaw as wanton soiling of the saree by the h,-"6S;:)d_o.lJS ..:5(.-;;]-.6.J" innocent Brathukamma. The heartless sister-in-law Kirathakanna yya champadu." induced her thoughtless husband to do away with Brathukamma failing which she would divorce him. meaning, 'touch me not; touch me not my mother. Brathukamma was told by the brother that there The sinful sister-in-law has got me killed and the was an urgent call for her from her husband and heartless brother has killed me'. took her away from the house during the absf'nce of her paren ts, killed her in the midst of a thick forest, They reached home and the brother of Brathu buried the body by the side of the path and retur kamma confessed the truth. ned home. BrathukaIIlma manifested herself on her grave as a flower tree. Her sister-in-law made her Brathukamma reached her mother's house on parents believe that she was sent to her husband on Asviyuja Padyami. Her husband started on Navami. an urgent call. But a day before Dasami the husband In her memory an image of Brathukamma is pre ofBrathukamma started to the parents-in-law's house pared annually by every Hindu family with a according to his previous promise. On the way he variety of flowers. It is more appropriate to say was very much attracted by the flower tree on the that huge heaps of several varieties of flowers are grave of Brathukamma and attempted to pluck ':Jut piled up on a big plank or plate representing the flower to present it to his beloved wife. He Brathukamma and worshipped. Ladies dance heard a voice- round the heaps singing the life of Brathukamma. The function continues day after day with great pomp and devotion till Ashtami. On the ninth day •• ;.'W E..) ~ ;.'We.)!;J 0iJv OJ .. ($J e.J e.J flower heaps of maximum size are arranged on l'vfuttaku muttaku mavaru plates or planks and taken to a nearby river or o5.:l.; €.J ~ 00 ~ (J"'>($J tank or well in procession with mu~ic. In some e.J Muttaboku mavaru places pulihora is offered fin:llly to Brathukamma at the river or we II. The planks are taken to deep .,.,,:,~ ;jEJ~ ,;)o~o{JoB e.J water and slowly removed from water leaving the Papishti vadina champinchindi heaps of flowers to remain floating in the water for § U"o"S $;:Sol oJ) S ,;) 0 ""~ several days afterwards. The rivers and rivulets Kirathakrnnayya champadu·'. present a pleasant sight on Navami and subsequent days with flowers floating down the river. meaning, 'touch me' not, touch me not my lord. Another speciality in the district on Dasami, The sinful sister-in-law has got me killed and the which is not heard of anywhere else in the state is heartless brother has killed me'. that after worshipping the sami tree in the field or forest, the villagers are particular of having the Unable to make out anything from it he straight darshan of palapitta a forest bird which is generally ~n\lay walked to the mother-in-law's house. He was as"SOcia ted with garuda, the sacred ki te and vehicle stunned to hear that Brathukamma was already of Lord Vishnu by the Hindus as in taken to his house and recapitulating the words he heard on his way he led the parents ·in-law to the ~vX6.:.~ 6o:Ja'l ~&.eruillJv:nol s'p0t where the strang flower-tree 5tood. When his Palagarudu thappa pakshijatamulanni, mother-in-law tried to pluck out the flower she Was They eagerly wait for the bird, see it and return warned by the voice from the tree- home. [ 12 ] APPENDIX I Durga puja is not confined to the Durga or War and the general of the army of the Gods. He other shakthi temples in this district. Several is the Son of Siva and Durga, is mounted on a pea families worship ghatams (new earthen vessels deco cock with its tail spread out, a bow and spear is in rated with pasupu, kurkulII etc.) during the Nava one of his hands and he is depicted to be very hand. rathrulu and in the end give them away to some It is said lhat women who have no male chil Brahmins, Jangams, D:ls:uis, etc. dren especially propitiate him to beget a son as handsome and courageous as Subrahmanya. 9. DeepavaJi· and 10. Dhanalakshmi Puja Deepavali also called N"araka Chaturdasi is It is the celebration of the birth of Kumara celebrated on Asviyuja Balzula Clzaturdasi (Septeniber. swamy to save Devas and Brahmins from the October). Dhanalakshmi puja comes off on the Danava, Tarakasura" who had acquired such a New Moon Day (Amavasya) of Asviyujam. All Hindus boon that none but the son of Lord Siva could kill believe that Lord Krishna along with his consort him. Insulted by Her own father Daksha, Parvathi Sathyabhama killed Narakasura and returned home had burnt Herself in the father's sacrificial fire and early in the morning on this day. Being an occasion was reborn as the daughter of Himavantha. Lord for rejoicing and welcoming the Lord, elders as Siva was doing severe penance. Nobody could well as youngsters get up very early in the morning, disturb His penance in order to make Him marry take oil bath and celebrate the happy occasion with Parvathi and beget the saviour of the world. Man display of fire works. It is a day of festivity with matha disturbed Siva's penance and got himself special food preparations. There is display of fire \ burnt to ashes for the benefit of the Universe. works in the night also. Lord Siva married Parvathi and the birth of Kumaraswamy was an event of great joy to the I~ towns and villages of this district, hundreds whole Universe. of lamps are lit on pials and compound walls of their houses by the rich and poor alike. A few Subrahmanya Shashti is confined to a very families light extra lamps for three days after the few Brahmin families to celebrate the birth of festival. The merchant class, particularly the Kumaraswamy who is otherwise known as Subrah Marwaris perform Dhanalakshmi puja in the night manya. inviting friends and relatives. The Marwaris com mence accounts of the year on that day. All money Fasting, puja, offering cocoanuts and naivedyam due to them is collected and worshipped along with are the rituals observed. One; special function on kalasam decorated with jewels inside the house and the occasion is to invite a Brahmin bachelor, honour the picture of Lakshmi is worshipped in the place of him, feed him and give him new clothing. Reading business. Fruits, flowers and tambulam are distribu and listening to the story of the birth of Kumara ted to the invitees. There is a practice known as swamy is another function which is believed to chadivimpu!u which is the presentation of a small bring prosperity to those that take part in it. amount by the invitees as a token good wish for the next year's prosperous business. Both in towns and 12. Sankranti-Makara Sankranti or Uttarayana villages an atmosphere of festivity prevails in every Sankranti is the Sun's entrance into the sign Capri family with cleaning and white-washing the houses cornus (Makara) which is identified with the Utta purchasing new clothes for themselves and the newl y rayana or return of the Sun to the north or to the winter wedded daughters and sons-in-law who are invited solstice. The festival marks the return of the Sun to for the festival. The lighting on a large scale and the the northern hemisphere. It is observed from 13th to fire works are a marked phenomina. This is an 15th January. It is also known as Pongal in Sou' eagerly looked festival in towns and villages, by the thern India and is dedicated to the glorification of rich and the poor and the young as well as the old. agriculture. In the Coastal districts of Andhra. it Pu1.i/:esham and other mimicry afford entertainment. is the most important festival. It is in the real sense a festival of the harvest. Every village 11. Subrahmanya Shashti takes place on -the flourishes with heaps of corn, pots of milk, blossom sixth lunar day in the bright fortnight of Margasiram ing flpwers, fruits, and vegetables. In fact, every (November - December). Subrahmanyaswamy, thing will be in plenty. One and all hail this festival generally known as Kumaraswamy is the God of as the symbol of affluence with joy a,nd exuberance. COMMON FESTIVALS [ 13 ] In this district this is not a greatly looked for Utharayana Pun)'akalam. Brahmins observe fasting, festival as in Coastal districts. It is given a perform puja to Bhishma and break their fast on ve:yordinary place and is observed for a day on Dwadasi with parani, a feast. This is unknown in . the 14th January when vayarlams are given to rural parts . Brahmin women. Vayanam includes new earthen vessels and all new agricultural produce such as 14. Mahasivaratri2 falls on the fourteenth day of fruits, grain, tamarind, jaggery, sugar cane along the waning moon in the end of lHagham (January with pasupu, kUlllklim. Sweets are prepared and February). This iI. the estimation of the followers offered to Gods in the houses. This is a simple of Siva is the most sacred of all their observances, festival mostly confined to women. expiating all sins and securing the attainment of all desires during life and union with Siva or final 13. Bhishma Ekadasi is celebrated by a very emancipation after death. The festival is said to few Brahmins on il1agha Suddha Ekadasi (January have been enjoined by Siva himself who declared February). to his consort U rna that the fourteenth day of the dark half of Magham if observed in His honour It has its source in the primitive institutions of should be destructive of the consequences of all sins the Hindus, of which the worship of the Pitras, the and should confer fnal liberation. The three patriarchs or progenitors, the Diti Nanes, constitu essential observances on this day are fasting during ted an important element. This day is dedicated the whole tidhi or lunar day, holding a vigil and to Bhishma1 the son of Ganga, the great uncle of worshipping the Linga during the night. After the Pandava and Kaurava princes, who was killed bathing in the morning the worshipper recites his in the course of the great war between the Pndavas samkalpa or pledge himself to perform the worship. and the Kauravas and dying childless left no deseh He then recites special mantras (holy texts) and dant in the direct line on whom it was incumbent offers an arghya (oblation) after which he goes to offer him funeral honours. In order to make through the matrikanyasa, a set of gesticulations good of this deficiency persons in general are accompanied by short prayers. The repetition of enjoined to make libations of water on this day to nyasa (i. e., touching parts of the body while repea his spirit and to offer him seasmum seeds and balls ting certain mantras, accompanies every offering made of cooked rice The act expiates the sin of a whole to the linga; they are fruits, flowers and incense and year. One of its peculiarities is that it is to be lights and the like during thewhole ceremony. The observed by persons of all the four original castes. Zinga is to be propitiated wi th different articles in The intention of the rite was now understood is each watch of the night on which the vigil is held. expressed in the mantras uttered at the time of Firstly the linga is bathed with milk. Incense, fruits, presenting the offerings. "I present this. water to flowers and articles of food. boiled rice and some the childless hero Bhishma. May Bhishma, the son times even dressed flesh, are offered with the repeti of'Santhanu, the speaker of truth, the subjugator of tion of mantras. Secondly it is bathed with curds. his passions obtain by this water the obbtions due Thirdly it is bathed with gI-.ee and lastly with by sons and grandsons." After his defeat by honey. Brahmins are entertained and presents are Arjuna he waited till J;lagha Suddha EkarJasi and died made. to them. Women as well as men perform on this day after the Makara Sankramanam called this vratha. 1. Bhishma was a great general and philosopher. Devotion to truth and duty, self restraint and self sacrifice, were all illustra ted by him throughout his long life in a manner almost unparallelld in the History of India. His father fell in love with the daughter of a fisherman, who would not give her in marriage t'll he was assured of her issue from the King su::cced :ng to the kingdom. Bhishma having come to know of his f..tther·s attachment for the girl went to her father and not only renounced his own claim to the throne, but by taking a vow of lIfe long celibacy cut off his line of offspring, saying that even dying childless he would attain heaven. So firm was his attachment to the vow that when on his step brother's death no male child was left in the family and he was earn 2. We dive into the ethical, metaphysical and allegorical lesson and import of the Maha-Sivarathri- Vrala. It will not be out of place for us to begin with a bird's eye glance into the historical incident aSbociated wit this great Vrala. It;s briefly . as fo Hows : [ 14] APPENDIX I All Hindus except Vaishnavites observe this this festival is observed not at their residences but festival. There is not much different in the obser at a holy place or a place of Siva pilgrimage such vance of this festival by the several sub-communi as Srisailam, Mahanandi, Kalashasti, etc., at times ties. On Magha Bakula Chaturdasi devotees fast the hundreds of miles away from ,home with the belief whole day, go to Siva temple for abhishekam, worship that those places are further sanctified during the and offer cocoanuts, fruits, panakam and panneram, period by the presence of devathas that visit the which they take as prasadam and observe jagarana centres to worship the presiding deity though invi (keeping awake the whole night), attend the purana sible. kalaAshepam, harikathas or dramas with a theme of Siva. The next morning they break their fast after 15. Kamadahanam' and 16 Holi-As in other dist a bath and puja. During the second day also they ricts of Andhra Pradesh, these festivals are clubbed desist from sleep. One general practice is that together in this district also. In other districts it A, hunter at Kasi goes into the forest hunting and on his way back sinks into deep sleep (owing to sheer physical exhaustIOn) under a tree and wakes therefrom to find the Sun has set already. Intense and awe-inspiring darkness envelops the whole forest, no ray of light enters it to pierce the darknes, and show him his way home; but the forest night is vigorously alive and resounds with the roarings of lions, tigers and other wild quadrupeds. It is impossible to think of returning home and he therefore cle.-ides to ascend the tree and pass the night on that brittle perch, which, however, uns:'tfe seemed safer a~ any rate th';ln terra .firma. Fortunately for him five happy coin~idences combine for his happiness and they are-(1) That is the Mahaswarathn night; (2) that is the Bilwa tree which he has climbed; (3) that an an:ie'1t Sivali.1ga is just below him; (4) that ow~ng to his having come out early at morn and stayed out all the time he has not ealc'! even a single morsel of food; and (5) that being the Sasiruthu (dew season) the Bilwa leaves wh'ch are wetted by the se'tsonal dew and which (owing to his frequent changing of his "ncomfortable posture) displaced from their setting, fell co.ltinually all the night through on the Sivalinga beneath. In other words, the hunter has unwittingly observed all the requirements of the Mahasivarathri- Vrota incl.tding the fasting, the all night vigil and the Bilwarchana (worship with Bilwa leaves) and Lo! and behold. We find Bhagvan Sri Sankara pouring forth His grace on the hunter, purging him of all his sins innumerable and giving him salvation. The story is .. long and beautiful one, pathetic in lts setting and soul stirring in its description. This bare skeleton summary of it will, however, suffice for our present purpose. Proceed we now to a bnef study of the inner, spiritual, allegorical and symbolical significance of this Mahavrata. But in order to ,wrave! its inner secret it is neCt'ssary that we should analyse the compoUlld-word Sivarathri- Vrata into its three component parts, i. e., Ratri, Siva and Vrata of each separately and then synthesise them again togetht'r. Along there with, we shall of course havc also to consider the sadhona (means required for) and the phai (the result) of the Vrata. That changeless being in whom all the world rests is Siva or He who de~troys all evils, ign6rance and sorrows and is the blissful one. He is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. Ratri is to give and means that which gives peace and happiness. In the present instance ralri does not mean physicQI night but simbolises the withdrawing by the sadhaka (aspirant) on the lader of spiritual progress of all his senses, his mind and his intellect nay, his whole beinr, away from all the follies and the distrac~ions, the snares and the delusions of the mere sensual world around him and his indrawing of himself into the supreme self within. The idea hehind the vigil prescribed is thus not mechanical one of physical awakeness but of our keeping constant and vigilant wat~h over ourselves (i. e' our misleading mind and straying senses) and our keeping absolutely and vigilantly awake and alive to the Paramathmathathwa (the inner reality, the supreme self within) which we generally sleep over or are not fully alive and awake to. Upavas does not mean mere physical fasting. It also means turning our senses and mind away f[om their Bahirmukha vriththi (i. e" their external sense-ward-tendency) and mak;ng them Antharmukha (turned inwards, i. e., 10wards the supreme soul within), we really perform or, in other words dwell spiritually and intellectually God-ward UPavasa thus involves not a merc physical fasting but also the mental turning of ourselves towards God. Amavasya gram'ltically meJ.ns dwelling, i. e., dwelEng of the Sun and Moon together. On the spiritual plane, however, the Sun and the l'vIoun symbolise the Paramalma and the Jeevatma (the universal soul and the individual soul) respectively. Amavasya means the samadhi-)oga stage wherein the Jeeva has become one with the Paramatma and there is the :?octual experience of absolute Monism, onene,s of God the individual soul and the whole Universe. Krishna Bahula Chaturdasi night is prescribed because the Jeem has withdrawn himself into the Lord but is not so completly absorbed and merged as to lose his individual consciousness, where no further sadhflna is left or even possible, This is the subhamuhoortha (the auspi cious mome~t) for Sivvplsana which can lead us to Amavasya or the samadhi-yoga. To sum up, recapitulate and conclude, the hunter of the narrative, there is Jeeva (the individual soul) who goes out on his inLessant que,t aLer sensual enjoyments but tired and sick and sore and disgusted with his unending travail and vain search for real and lasting h"ppiness through sense enjoyments falls asleep to them or withdraws himself from them fasts absolutely (i. e. shuns sensuality, materialism and, beastiality altogether) wakes up to realise the character of forest darkness of Agnana (ignorance) which envelops him on all sides seeks protection therefrom and its terrors by climbing the tree Janana sadharw, keevs.vigil all thro,lgh, On his g,lard against succumbing any more to the snares and temptations of the flesh and senses and performs perpetual puja (worship) of the autharyami, Lord of Universe and thereby attains the oneness with God which, consciously or unconsciously is the one ultimate inner wish of the hearts and inner most desire of every Jttva (individual soul) in the whole llniverse. Such are the allegorical lessons of Maha Sivarathri.-Artich from Bhavan's Joumal a fornightly magazine of March 4, 1962, on Mahasivaratri and its significance by H. H. Sri Bharathi Krishna Thertha of Puri. COMMON FESTIVALS [ 15 ] commences on Phalguna Suddha Triodasi and closes ence or a formidable percentage of the Sugalis on Bahula PadJami (February-March). But in this not only in the forest areas but also In the border district it is a sixteen day affair. ing villages. One legend which is current is that Man The festival is inaugurated on Phalgllna Suddha madha1 was burnt to ashes by the fire from the Padyami (February-March) itself, committees being third eye of Lord Siva who in His wrath opened it formed for each locality in every town and village. for having been disturbed in His penance. This The fire-pit is fixed in the usual place and the first extreme sacrifice was made by Manmadha at the instalment of articles to be burnt on Purnima along behest of his father Lord Vishnu in order to save with the picture of Manmadha is stored there. Devathas from Rakshasa Tarakasura who could be When once it reaches the spot of its doom it remain1 killed only by the son born to Lord Siva and Par there till it is burnt to ashes unremoved even by its vathi. Manmadha disturbed the penance of Lord owner whatever its value might be. Young and old Siva so that He could marry Parvathi. take advantage of this traditional license and increase the s;ze of the heap day by day till Pllrnima. According to Vaishnava Puranas it waS the The Sugalis who are generally very poor and who anniversary of a great feat of heroism which wailt to revel in meat and drink during this festi Krishna ,performed by destroying a she-demon val, dance before the housesj of the well-to-do in variously named Sankhashuda, Hori, Holi, Holika, the villages and towns adjoining the forest to collect Medha and Dhundha. The most probable suppo subscriptions for the final da y's revelry. sition, however, is that it was set apart to celebrate the return of spring to typify the general influence This is a public function. The main function of spring upon both the animate and inanimate is on Purnima. An earthen image of a female is creation, and to express the feelings spread by the placed in the centre of the place where Kamadaha season and the delight which the revival of nature nam is to take place and some kind of puja is sent forth. The festival dates from Vedic times. performed. The gathered material is placed all According to a legend, Holika was the name of a round the image. A picture of Kama or Manmadha she-demon who used to devour children that were disturbing the penance of Lord Siva is taken round supplied to her by turns from each family in the in procession with wild dances, cries and abuses. places where she held sway. It so happened that In fact there is a belief that everyone should be a one day, an old woman's only grandson was to be target of some abuse in order to counteract the evil offered as victim and she was lamenting her bitter effect of unfavourable starts. Obscence language is misfortune. A holy mendicant happened to pass used at any body and everybody and vulgar verses her door, and hearing the cause of her sorrow are sung aloud. 'After the procession the picture is thought for a while and advised that if Holika burnt along with the material in the pit. After the could be made to hear vile and obscene expressions, contents of the pit are practically burnt, half-burnt she coulcl_ be killed for she was destined to die that sticks are taken home and oil lamps are lit with it. way only. The whole village took this holy plan Generally vasantham or sprinkling of coloured water at his word and when Holika came for her prey commences then and there itself. During the pro next day she was met by such a chorus of vile and cession in'some big plac;es artificial elephants con filthy ahsue that she dropped dead as prophecied. structed on carts are taken round the streets wi th This event is supposed to be commemorated by the music, country dances, etc, In this district the festival and the abscene language used by some sprinkling does not confine to vasantham, which is youths generally at the Holi festival is believed to of light colour prepared with water, saffron and have originated from'this legend. lime, indelible colours at times mixed with oil are also used. 111 other districts the ash at the firepit In this district this is one of the popular festi is removed in handfuls by farmers, mix with vals. This is perhaps due to the Mah'uashtra in flu- manure and scatter it in the fields to protect the 1 Mahamadha was the son of Ma~a (the primary illusion) or the general attracting power and is married to Rati, affection and his bosom friend is Vasant (the spring season), Manmadha or Kama is represented as an external youth with eight arms and attended by four nymohs, Pleasure, affection, passion and power; bearing the shell, the lotus, a bow and five arrows and a banner, riding on a parrot. [ 16 ] APPENDIX 'I crops from pests. But here the ash is used to be On the badirath all keep awake till 4 a. om. when the thrown again,st others and when exhausted the mob reading of Quran be completed and sweets are" do not hesitate to use liberally the earth and dust distributed. The fast is broken in the night ~t on the road in its place. The festival ~omes to an home by some with a common dinner from a " abrupt end by tweleve in the noon. The whole common plate in the mosque by several. The last activity of a fortnight ends that day with a feast of , day is khutba day, i.e., Tat-day is Skavval on which no extraordinary significance. But the feast com , the observance culminates with great pump and menced at noon continues till late in the night for show. All wear new clothes and each member in the Sug lis with int xi ants playing an important the well-to-do families distributes among the poor role. Ii measures of wheat or rice or cholam to enable the poor also pax:ticipate in the common namaz. COMMON MUSLIM FESTIVALS They go for the nanaz to id~gah (open place where a wall is constructed on a raised platform on the 1. Ramzan is an observance taken up during the western outskirts of the village or town). One entire month of Ramzan by all Muslims and on the distinguishing feature at the time of namaz is that last day of the month they celebrate ld. Prophet the rich- and the poor stand together in a row Mohammad, while he was doing penance in shedding the cloak of social status. When the Gha-e-Hira (a cave) in Macca at his fortieth year Muslims in a village are too few to form' a congre is believed to have acquired Quran sent by Allah gation or poor have an id-gah to conduct namaz at through Gabriel. The observance of this month is their own place, they go.to the neighbouring village one of the five cardinal practices in Islam and and join the congregational namaz, According to the. express commands regarding it are given in the rules of Shariat every person after crossing the age Quran. of 12 years must observe all the fasts regularly. He or she can be excused in extraordinary circumstances, Throughout the entire month Muslims commence like serious illness, monthly period for women, etc. their fast at 4-30 a. m. every day and break it only It is a fact that a great deviation has taken place after sunset. In the large towns of this district from the injunction3 of Shariat in this matter. But these timings are indicated for the convenience of then again a Muslim would incur public oppor . the public by a siren or bursting a fire cracker. In brium, if, during the period. of Ramzan he takes certain towns and big villages of this district where food or smokes publicly. Us1ually the procession to the Muslim population is considerable one ·or more Id-gah goes to one route and returns by another, groups of Muslims go round the streets and lanes wherever it is convenient to do so. The beggars singing in praise of the Prophet thus waking up that line up on both the routes will then have the the Muslims by 4 O'clock in the morning, so that benifit of the charity of the rich. they m3Y take their food before the scheduled time. This appears to be the duty of some poor Muslims 2. Bakrid is also called Id e-Q;trban (the great for which they are remunerated either in cash or feast of sacrifice) and Id~ul-Kabir or Badi-Id (the kind; All luxuries also such habits as smoking, ~nd great feast). It is celebrated on the 10th day of chewing and snuffing are avoided during this pedod Z,ilhaz and it is a part of the rites of the Mecca and a complete fast during day time is observed. The pilgrimage. It is observed in all parts of Islam, observance of fast is so strict that during that both as a day of sacrifice and as a great festival. period some orthodox Muslims do not even l>wallow It is founded on command in the Quran, Chapter their own saliva. During the nights. Moulvies XXIII, Verses 33-3it Two of ,he Verses are: deliver lectures on Islam. In addition to zsha (the night prayer) everyday additional prayer, namely "Ye may obtain advantages from the cattle upto ta-ru-yeh (20 rakaths) is offered and a part of the the set time for slaying them; then the place for sacri ficing them is at the ancient house, By no means can Holy-Book (Quran) is recited. On badirat!z or the their flesh reach unto God, neither their blood; but best night (or shab-e-khader) which falls on the 26th piety on your part reacheth Him. Thus hath He subjected them to you that ye magnify God for his ,or 27th day a<;cording ,as the month consists of 29 or guidance, more-over announce glad tidings· -to those 30 days recitation of the Holy Book is completed. who do good deedsl " L E. Denison Ross, An Alphabetical List of Feasts and Holidays of Hindus- and Muhammddfns (Calcutta 1914! p. 102 COM:MON' FEST IV ALS [ 17 ] The regend goes that· before' the birth of considered highly meritorious to sacrifice one animal ,for each member of thlll family, but as that would Prophet, Mohammad, there was Ibrahim (Abrailain) involve an expenditure few could bear, it is allowable a Prophet who condemned polytheism and animal to sacrifice one victim for the household. In extreme cases, men may combine together and make one sAcri. sacrifice before images. I t is he that constructed . fice for'ali, but -the Dumber of persons so combining kaba. He beheaded the minor idols secretly, placed must not ·exceed seventy. Some authorities limit the . number to seven"l. the sword in the hand of the presiding deity and proclaimed that the crime was committed by the The skin of the sacrificed animal should be sold deity itself. The enraged mob threw him into the and the money thus got distributed among the poor. fire but angels and God saved him. God comman Quite apart from its religious ceremonies, the ded that he should sacrifice his only son Ismail festival is observed as a great occasion of rejoicing. begot at the ripe age of eighty. Though Satan tried Chappatis (wheat bread), sweets and bowls ot khima to dissuade him, Ibrahim executed the Lord's are the onl y prepara tions for the dinner. Rice is command. However, it was only a test and his son not cooked gs:nerally. Presentations are made to was restored to life. An orthodox version is that the youngsters. God desired Ibrahim to sacrifice to him the best he loved. The best he loved was his youngest son For the subsequent four days three takbirs 'ire Ismail, who made to prostrate blind-folded. Ibrahim recited after every namaz (prayer) in His priase for with his eyes covered, repeating the words Bismillahi the mercy shown in restoring Ismail to life. Rich Allah-ho-Akbar (with the name of God who is great) persons give alms to the poor. drew the sword accross his neck. In the meanwhile, however, the lirchangel Gabriel, snatching, Ismail 3. Moharram- from underneath the blade, substituted a broad "The name of the first month of Muslim year is tailed sheep in his stead. Abraham unfolding his also the name given to the first ten days of the month eyes observed to his surprise and joy the sheep slain observed by the Shiahs in commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussain, the sel'ond son of ~atimah, and his son standing behind. God ordained that a the I'rophet's daughter, by Ali. A short account of cow (or a bull) or a sheep or a goat be sacrificed in this tragic event is necessary to understand th~ quaint in his place. Animal sacrifice appears to have come ceremonies which are obsened on this festival."2 into vogue from then. "Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammed was the fourth Khalif of Islam. He is described as 'the last and In commemoration of this sacrifice;, Bakrid is worthiest of the primitive Musalmans wbo imbibed his religious enthusiasm from companionship with observed on the tenth day in the Muslim month of the Prophet himself and who followed to the last the Zilhaz.· On that day the Muslims go to Id-gah (an simplicity of his character.' He was a man calculated by his earnest.devotion to the Prophet and his own open place where a wall is constructed on a raised natural graces to win as he has done, the admiration platform on the western outskirts of the village or of succeeding generations. A strong opposition, how ever, arose and Ali was assassinated in a mosque at town), without having their breakfast as a mark of Kufa. It is not easy, amid the conflicting statements respect to Ismail and offer their namaz (prayer). It of historians of the rival sects, to arrive at 'he truth in all the details of the events which happened then; is believed that the deer in the forest stands on one But generally received opinion is that after the assa leg without even feeding its young one till the namaz ssination of Ali Hassan, his son renounced his claim to the Khalifat~ in favour of his father's rival·Muavia. is over. Therefore, the namaz is performed early Hassan was ultimately poisoned by his wife, who, it even before taking breakfast. Within three days, is said was instigated by Muavia to do the deed, in order to leave the coast clear for his Ye:r.id. The most the head of the family takes a sheep or a cow or tragic event has yet to come .. Yezid. who succeeded a goat and turning its head towards Mecca, says. his father, was a very licentious and iIreligious man. The people of Kufa being disgustrd at his conduct, sent messengers to Hussain, the remaining son of Ali. ··In·the name of the great God verily my prayers, with the request that he would assume the Khalifate. my sacrifice, my life, my death, belong to God the In vain, the friends of Hussain tried to persuade him Lord of the.worlds. He has no partner: that is what to let the people of Kufa first revolt and thus show I am bidden; for I am first of those who are resigned". the reality of their wishes.by their deeds. III an evil " And then he slays the animal. The flesh of the ani .. hour Hussain started with a small band of forty horse mal is divided into three portions one third being men and one hunrlred foot-soldiers. On the plain of given to relation., one third to the poor and the Karbala he found h is way barred by a force of three remaining one third reserved for the family. It is thousand men. 'We are few in number' said Hussain 1. E. Dension Ross, (lp. cit., p. JG3 2, E. Dension Ross, op. cit., p. 106 [ 18 ] APPENDIX I 'and the enemy is in farce I am resolved to die. But you-I release you from your oath of allegiance; let Hassan !' .. The three days are enjoyed with fancy all tbose who wish to do so Jeave me'. 'O! Son of dresses of tigers, bears, etc., and mimicry. Both Apostle of God,' was the reply. what excuse could we Hindus and Muslims go to the imambara for offering give to grandfather on the day of resurrection' did we abandon thee to the hands of thine enemies? One fatihahs to alams. On the evening before the tenth by ('ne these brave men feli beneath the swords of the day which according to the Muslim mode of com enemy, until Hussain and his infant son alone were left. Weary and thirsty, Hussain sat upnn the ground. puting time is the tenth night, all the taziyahs and The enemy ct, ew near. but no one dared to kill the the atams are taken out in procession. It is a scene grandson of the Prophet. An arrow pierced the ear of the little boy and he died. 'We came from God of great confusion, for men and boys disguised in and we return to Him', were the p .. thetic words of all sorts of quaint get up run about fencing and Hussain as with a sorrowful heart he laid the dead body of his son on the sand. He fought bravely for jumping. At a convenient hour in the night of the a while.; but at last fell c .. vered with many wounds"'. ninth day burning cinders are levelled in the pit in front of the ashur khanah and devotees both Muslims Several pious Shiah and Sunni Muslims observe and Hindus, a few holding alams walk across the fast, recite the Quran at home during the ten days fire in several places is seen in the ten days' and the tenth day is observed as Ashurah (mour observances of Moharram. It is the carnival of the ning day). It is the Muslim belief that the future lower class Muslims and Hindus. On the following Khiamath (destruction of the world) will be on day after f'atihahs are read the· taziyahs and alams are Friday of this ten days period of Moharram. The taken away to the nearby river, tank or a well out Shiahs, a sub-community of Islli\.m, observe this as side the town. There the immersion ceremony an occasion of immense pain and sorrow. They takes place, which is washing the peerlu in water weep and wail beating their breasts during these and removing them from the poles on which they ten days. Cots are upturned, mats are wound up were kept mounted from the first of the festival. and the bare floor is made the sleeping place during the period. They wear only black clothes. They The buthi (curd and cooked rice with condi~ perambulate the streets with a flag expressing their ments, brought from home is offered as fatihahs at sorrow, recounting the activities of the departed the river and distributed in small quantities to as heroes Hassan and Hussain and calling out their many of those assembled as possible. After the names. The highly orthodox Shiahs condemn even immersion ceremony, the alams are wrapped in the processions They consider the two heroes cloth and kept in ashur khanahs for;3 days. Though equal to Prophet Himself. non-vegetarian food is prohibited for 3 days, it is observed only for a day except by the Shiahs. "Some days previous to the festival the imambara Sherbath is generally distributed. After the third 'house of the Imam). also called ashur khanah (ten day . house) is prepared. As soon as the new muon appears day the alams are taken home and kept in safe cus 'the people gather tngether in vari.>us imambara.r and tody for the next Moharram. offer fatihahs over some shorb./ or some sU\lar 10 the name of Hussain. Thefltihahs c,lOciudes thus: '0 God grant the reward of th!s to the soul of Hussain,' The 4. Milad-un-Nabi is observed by all Muslims on sherbal and sugar are then distributed. The imambars is generally temporary structure ror some large hall the twelfth day of the month Rabi-ul-Avval in com fitted up for the occasion. The alams or standards memoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammad as which are commonly made of copper and brass, though occasionally of gold or silver are placed against the also of his death day. walls. The usual .tandard is that of a hand placed on a pole. This is emblematic of the five memhers 1. Rev. Edward Sell, THE FAITH OF ISLAM (1880), pp. 236-231. 2. E. Denison Ross, op. cit,. pp. 107-108 COMMON FESTIVALS [ 19] and got Quran from God through Gabriel. He opportunity to save his money, he replied that preached that Almighty was one and as a conse normally it was a great sin to utter a lie and that quence had to escape from Mecca to Madina where it would be a greater one in his case as he had he acquired 330 dis.::iples in the first instance. He promised his mother &.t the time of leave taking spread his Gospel, gradually regained Mecca and and receiving her blessings not to utter a lie. The passed away in the year 1775 on the twelfth day of gang of robhers reformed themselves and became a Rabi-ul-Avval. On this day food is cooked and after group of hi s disciplies. fatihahs have been read over it, it is distributed to 6. Shab-e ·Barat or Night of Record-This festival the poor. Both in private houses and mosq.ues, is held on the night of the fourteenth of the eighth meetings are held at which the story of the b~rth, month, i.e., Shahan and it is believed that the miracles and death of the Prophet are recIted. duties of the men for the ensuing year are recorded. They keep awake throughout the night and nan:az The whole night is spent either in prayer or in is performed. Quran is recited in mos~ues du~mg recitation of Quran in a happy and pleasant mood which period the moustache (often a smgle half of with illuminations and display of fire works. We it and a piece of black blanket) are removed slowly find in these celebrations the influence of Deepavali from the box in which they are preserved and are celebrations conducted by the Hindus with great shown to the gathering by the Qazi. This is done mirth and joy extravagantly indulging in fire work. only in big towns. Relatives are enterta:ned to a This is a common festival among Muslims though good feast. the celebration is confined to a few rich and educa ted Muslims of towns. 5. Peer-e-Dastagiri is celebrated on the eleventh day of the forth month, i.e., Rabi-us-Sani by the COMMON CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS Sunnis in honour of the saint Abdul Khader I. The New Year's Day-The 1st of January is Jeelani or Geelani. His tomb stands at Baghdad celebrated as the New Year's Day by all Christians. and is visited by Sunni Muslims and some non Celebrations commence an hour or two before the Muslims as well. This is an occasion of his birth actual birth of the New Year. Between 10 and day celebration. In his name a green flag is taken 11 O'clock on the night of the 31st December of the in procession to the accompaniment of music and is preceding year there is the watch night service in finally erected on a platform specially constructed churches. The function commences with the for the purpose in places where the Sunnis are in a distribution of sweets to the assembly. Exactly at majority. In other places the flag is fixed on a 12 O'clock in the mid-night a speech is delivered margosa tree near the entrance to the place. ushering in the New Year. Songs about the com This is done with belief that a flag of Peer-e-Dasta ing year, about glory of God, in priase of Christ giri who was a great saint would protect the place and prayer for His blessings are sung individually warding off all epidemics and foul play of Satan. and in chorus. At about 0-30 hours the function Just as in Moharram it is a very happy occasion coucludes by a service and mutual exchange of though for a single night. In the rural parts of the greetings for the New Year by those assembled district it is an interesting sight to witness the vast there. At 5-30 hours in the morning of the New crowd of Hindus with a handful of Muslims moving Year's Day each family conducts service in the together in a procession with the green flag flying house. Prayers are offered for the benefits of the above and music playing in front. In towns, a few previous year and for blessings in the ensuing ye.ar. orthodox Muslims who are educated commence ten After bath and wearing of new clothes, greetmg days earlier reading the life and other holy books cards, gifts and sweets are distributed to friends on Islam and conclude the festival with poor feed and relatives. Church service between 9 and 11 ing on a small scale whether there is a procession a. m. is attended by all. Dedication of the Biblical or not. Several miracles are attributed to the names by the Pastor to the new born babies and credit of the great saint. At the earlier stages of special prayers for the extention of the kingdom of his life he converted a gang of robbers by telling Christ bring the function to a close. them how much of money he had with him and w here he had kept it. When the robbers questioned At home each family exhibits the greetings and him why he revealed the fact while there was an gifts such as toys, clothing, sweets, etc., received [ 20] APPENDIX I from friends and relatives on a table in the well resurrectiDn of Jesus Christ Dn the first Sunday decorated hall of the house. The day is one of after the full moon following the Vernal eqvinox. rejoicing with choice sweet meats and non-vegeta Though Easter Sunday is the central point in the rian dishes for dinner. observance of the events connected with Christ's death on a Friday and His resurrection on a Sunday, Besides contributing one tenth of a month's the ideal Easter season extends from Ash Wednes income to the church Dy all devoted Christians, day, the first day of Lentto Whit Sunday which special offerings are made to the church for the commmemorates the day of Pente Cost. This extension of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, i. e., for period of the Easter cycle may be divided intO' 3 the mission of converting others into Christianity. periods-( I) The prep,aratory fast of the forty days The exchange of greetings is not confined to of Lent; (2) The fifteen days beginning with Christians alone. It is extended to all classes of Sunda y before ano. ending with the Sunday after educated people. The Christians distribute sweets Easter, during which the ceremonies of the holy to all their Hindu and Muslim friends in the week and the services of the Octave of Easter are locali ty. observed; and (3) The Octave of Easter during which the newly baptised wear their white garments For the recently converted uneducated Harijans and for the Paschal season beginning at Easter and of the count~yside, the New Year's Day has no lasting till Whit Sunday. In this district fasting special significance, unless the concerned Pastor is observed for a week commencing from the 4th undertakes to hold the function of dedicating Bib day preceding Good Friday upto Easter; i e., the lical names to the converts here and there during Sunday after Good Friday, This period is known the close of the year. In spite of these celebrations as Lamentation Period or Passion Week. The Christians do not attach much religious importance religious minded elders observe the fast very to this New Year's Day. There is a convention strictiyand engage themselves in prayers. ll-OO gaining ground b:lth among the Catholics and the hours to 16-00 hours, wh~n only 7 persons speak, Protestants th:1t there is no need to attach impor the significance being that the Lord spoke only tance to 1st January as a New Year's Day. It may seven words frcm the cross befDre His death. Each be observed, as any other Indian does, as the first speach is preceded and followed by a prayer. No da y of the official calendar year. Along with the true Christian fails to observe fast at least on that preparation and enjoyment of the time-honoured day The Sunday following; is Easter. Early in bhaks:lyam from the days of forefathers, all the func the morning at 5 00 hours all the members Df the tions of thanks giving for the closing year and church start i:l procession from the church to' an open prayers for the New Year etc., can as well be space preferably a grove. There they sing in praise transferred to the Telugu New Year's Day by the of Lord after which there is sermon by a learned Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra Christians preacher. By 7-00 hours, they return home and now that we are an Independent Nation with a get ready to attend the church by 9-00 hour:;. national calendar of our own. Roman Catholics, however, do not go in processiDn but attend their respective churches, have service 2. Good Friday - Jesus Christ was crucified in from 3 to 4 p.m. as Jesus is believed to have been Jerusalem by the Jews on Friday and Good Friday crucified at 3 p.m. They observe jagarana on the is celebrated to commemorate the day It is a part night of Saturday previous to the Easter Sunday of the celebration of the Easter! and comes imme which they call 'Ea~ter Vigil'. Immediately after diately before the Easter Sunday, Easter being the the servic~ in the church 'Lord '8 Supper is observed mDst joyous of Christian festivals observed annually by those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus throughout Christiano.om in commemoration of the Christ. Bread and diluted wine in little quantities 1 Easter-The day the Christians celebrate Chris's rising from the dead is called Easter. It always comes of on a Sunday faJlipg either in March or in ApriL The date depends on when the moon appears in full in those months, How ever, it can never be earlier than March 22 nor latter than April 25. To m~ny, E.lster means the coming of the spring. In this se.:son trees give out new leaves; seeds that havs rested in the ground all winter send up leaves and flowe~s; mooths come out of their cocoons, birds build nests and lay eggs. For hundreds of years eggs have signified the awaking of life of the spring. Christians colour Easter eggs and gIVe them to their friends as a way of saying 'Spring is here' (The golden book of EnCjclopedia-Book V. Page 443 by Bertha Moris Parker) COMMON FESTIVALS [21] representing the flesh and blood of Jesus are taken groups singing Christmas caroBs to wake up the by Christians. New born babies are brought to the Christians and inviting them to church· for the church and Christened with Biblical names by the important celebration of 25th morning. Some of pastor. Nominally the members of the Christi:m the children of the families receive such parties and family are baptised as a token of rebirth, affirming offer them sweets and cakes. After the service in their belief in Christ. This is done by immersing church on the morning of the 25th they return home the Christian in the water and taking him out by and spend the day in merriment exchanging the pastor or some other church authority chanting greetings and inviting friends and relatives to parti hymns. This is the practice with the majority of cipate in the Christmas dinner. The well-to-do protestants who immerse the new convert not parti protestants prepare the Chdstmas Tree wi th canes cularly in sacred or holy water as John, the Baptist, and bamboos and decorate it with coloured paper, Baptised for the first time in the water of the river candles and variety of coloure:d bulbs. Gifts and Jordan. It signifies a spiritual turning away from greetings received from friends and relatives are sins and the entry into a new purer life. A few of conspicuously exhibited on the Christmas Tree. the protestats and all the Catholics sprinkle holy water on the new converts before Baptism, after The Roman Catholics do not have Christmas saying prayers over the water before it is sprinkled. Tree but exhibit in a crib (a small hut like erection) Feasts are held and consumed in every house with the articles of presentations, the statues of Baby friends and relatives. Jesus, Mother Mary and foster father Joseph. Some figures of animals representing the stable are .3 .. Christmas is the birthday celebration of Jesus Christ. Though 25th is the birth day of Jesus, the also kept to indicate the actual place of the birth of celebrations commence on the night of 23rd Decem Lord Jesus. ber with the Christmas candle Lighting Service. The evening of 24th is called the "Christmas Eve" Christmas is a common festival for all Christi and special prayers and services are held in chur ans in this district, whether rich or poor, in town. or ches. In order to keep the children awake on the village. The well-to-do in the towns celebrate the night of the 24th the parents tell them that festival in the manner detailed above. ·Even the 'Christmas Father' visits them with presents. This poor on account of the close association with the 'Christmas Father' or 'Santa Claus' is an imaginary rest in the town observe it with equal zeal though person with a white flowing beard and a red snow they cannot afford the costly dinners or exchange suit who is believed to fill the children's stockings of sweets. The 'Christmas Tree' is a luxury for with Christmas presents by night. The children them. For the uneducated Harijan converts of the generall y fall asleep by mid-night of the Christmas village, Christmas is, perhaps, a festival. Rich Eve; then the parents keep presents like sweets, feasts of the year are held though they are not baloons, toys, etc. in stockings and keep them under advanced enough to conceive the idea of 'Christmas their beds or on the tables. In the morning the Father' or a 'Christmas Tree'. But the missionaries children are told that Christmas Father had come and the local pastors are innovating several methods and left them presents. Even in the church the of conversion on the Christmas day. Processions eldest member is dressed like the Christmas Father singing songs in Telugu, door to door personal and is made to wander about in the congregation, invitation to one and all of the place to take part in distributing sweets, etc., to the children from the the procession, enacting of dramas of the life and stockings hung to a bamboo stick on his shoulder. teachings of several of the Christian saints and On the night of 24th December the members of the arranging hurrakathas about the saints are resorted Church specially youngsters go around the t'Jwn in to support their mission. 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'I'... bD;:s I OJ OJ ::8'" ...u .c .c < ..c 8 8 ~ I 0 OJ .., .. > u Po ~ u 0 OJ <: I-) 0 Z 0 GLOSSARY Abhishekam Religious rite of pouring Gandadeepam Taking burning wick un or sprinkling sacred der a canopy; the wick waters on the image of burning before the im a deity age of a deity Agarbathis Incense sticks Cotram Clan Agnigundam Fire pit Akhandanamasmarana Incessant recital of God's Harikatha Legends of exploits of name Gods or heroes narrated in songs with music and Special worship Aradhana dance Bandlu theeyuta Taking out the carts in a Harinamasmarana .' Chanting the names of procession Lord Vishnu Bhagauatam A sacred book of Va ish Homam Sacrifice nava cult ]agarana Keeping awake the whole Bhajana Singing in chorous in night meditating on praise of God God Bonalu A preparation of rice and Janda Flag greengram dhal inten Jatara Fair having religious im ded for offering to a portance deity Jayanti Birth day celebration Chakrateertham Taking the chakram (disc of Lord Vishnu) to a Kalakshepam Pastime well or pond for wash Kalasam A vessel of copper, brass ing in the waters or even of earth into Chauadi A common meeting place which water is poured for all elders in the vi 11- and a cocoanut is pla age for gossipping, etc. ced at the top surroun Cheruvu Tank or pond ded by 5 betel leaves with their tips upwards Dakshina Cash paid to pujari or pu Kalyanam Marriage rohit on ceremonial oc Kappam Tax casions Ko/atam A dance to the beats of Dandckam Verse in priase of God or short sticks held in Goddess hands Dappu Drum Koncru Tank or pond Darga Place of religious. impor Kumbham Heap of cooked rice tance for Muslims (ge nerally a tomb) Lingam Phallus symbolising Lord Darshan Audience Siva Deeparadhana . Lighting of oil lamps ce fore the deity ]Vlanga/aharati Flame of prosperity offe Dharmasatram Choultry red to mortals as well as DW'ljarohanam Inauguration of the festi Gods at the end of an val (flag hoisting) auspicious event [48 ] Mantapam A small room with pillars Rudrabhishekham Abhishekham to Lord Siva and roof, all of stone; a reciting Rudram-a spe· structure for placing an cial composition idol Sami A kind of tree connected Mantram Incantation or a spell; it with epics (prosopis spi also denotes hymn, cigera) sacred text and mystical verse Sankusthapana Laying the foundation stone .Moolavigraham Presiding deity Seva Worship Nandi Sacred bull-Vehicle of Lord Siva Teertham Sacred water; celebration of festival Nakshatra Star Naivedyam Offering in kind made to Thambuiam The whole apparatu3 of God and consumed betel, i.e., leaf, nut, later chunnam and spicery in the manner the Indians take it; generally betel Panduga Festival leaves and arecanuts Parayana Recitation Pelalu Fried millet Uthsauam Procession Prasadam Eatables distributed after offering to deity Vahanam Vehicle Idol Pujari Priest, one who conducts Vigraham worship Vimanam Aerial Chariot; the tower over the main shrine Puranam Story relating to God or Vishesha Se'lJa • Special worship Goddess Vivaham. Marriage Putnalu • Fried bengalgram Vratham • Vow or worship In fulfil Puttuuendrukaluteeyuta Tonsure ceremony ment ofa vow Rathothsavam • Car festival, chariot pro Togi One who attained special cession powers through penance IN D EX Page Name of lii/lage Taluk or Page Naryze of village Taluk or No. or town Sub-taluk No. or town Sub-taluk 2 3 2 3 Achampet Banswada 36 Hangarga Bodhan 45 Allapur Banswada 34 Hasakothur Armur 10 Ambam Bodhan 48 Hasgul IVladnur 40 Ambarpet Kamareddy 18 Nizamabad 2 Anantgiri 31 Armur 11 Ibrahimpf't Banswada Ankapur 7 Arepallc Banswada 37 Isapalle Armur Argul Armur 1 J Armur Armur 7 Jalalpur Armur 7 ]alalpur Banswada 27 16 Babapur Armur 10 ]angampalle Kamareddy 48 Balkonda Armur 9 ]ankamp~t Bodhan 11 Bandaranjal Banswada 32 ]akranpalle Armur Danswada Banswada 32 Baswapllr Madnur 44 Kachapur Kamareddy 17 Bheemgal Armnr 11 Ka!igota Armur 11 Bhiknur Kamareddy 20 Kallur Bodhan 51 Bibipeta Kamareddy 19 Kalwaral Kamareddy 13 Bichkunda Madnur 43 Kamareddy Kamareddy 15 Binola Nizamabad 1 Kamshe tpalle l3answada 30 Birkur Banswada 29 Karegaon Banswacla 27 l30dhan Bodhan 46 Katepalle Bansw3,cl.::t 34 Bommandevpalle Banswada 28 I;;'hanapur Nizam:lbad 2 BorIam Banswada 33 Khanctakurthi Bodhan 45 Kopperga Bodhan 45 Challagarga Nizamabad 6 Konapur Banswada 30 Chandur Banswada 27 Kotchira Madnur 40 Chincholi Banswada 29 Kotgir Bodhan 51 Chinna Devada Madnur 42 Kowlas Madnur 44 Chinna Kodapgal Banswada 34 Kulaspur Nizamab"d 3 Chinnur Yellareddy 26 K~rnapalle Bodhan 49 Chinna Takadpalle Madnur 44 KushtajJur Armur 7 Chukkapur Kamareddy 16 Choutpalle Armur 10 Lachan Madnur 40 Lingampet Yellareddy 24 Desaipet . Banswada 31 Lingaredd ypet Yellareddy 23 Dewanpalle Kamareddy 16 Dharipalle Nizamabad 6 40 Dichpalle Nizamabad 5 Madni.lf l\fadm:r 8 Domakonda Kamareddy 18 Magdi Armur 2 Durki Banswada 31 Maklur Nizamabad 6 Dusgaon Nizamab Name of village Taluk or Page Name of village Taluk or Pa or town Sub-taluk No. or town Sub-taluk '\ 2 3 2 Nagapur Armur 9 Salabatpur alias Madnur ~S Nagareddipet Yellareddy 25 Mirzapur Salora Bodhan Pag~ No. Column No. Line For Read (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 15 from top SiranpaJle Sirnapalle 3 2 18 from top Censu Census 4 17 from bottom back by back to 10 2 5 from top Gundla Goundla 12 2 8 from top one an 13 2 5 from top pomps pomp 15 2 17 from top Shan Vali Shah Vali 19 8 from top Makareddy Kamt.reddy 24 2 7 from top Padmasali's Padmasalis 30 2 7 from bottom sheeps sheep 42 2 from top cOl~ght caught 42 2 19 from top tombwas tomb was 51 ]9 from top artikaK Kartik APPENDIX I [8] 2 10th line defferent different Second para [8] 2 last line defferent different Third para [13] S ~o. 13-10th line Pndavas Pandava~ [13] 2 s. No. 14-12th line fnal final