Adilabad: Mesrams arrive in Indervelli fetching sacred Godavari water Godavari

The Mesrams fetched the holy water in an ancient container from a spot called Hasthanamadugu in Godavari near Kalamadugu village in Jannaram mandal of Mancherial district by trekking for 150 kilometers

Adilabad: Carrying sacred water or ‘Ganga Jal’ from Godavari river, the Mesrams arrived in Indervelli mandal centre on Friday.

The Mesrams fetched the holy water in an ancient container from a spot called Hasthanamadugu in Godavari near Kalamadugu village in Jannaram mandal of Mancherial district by trekking for 150 kilometers. Around 200 members of this clan set off to fetch holy water or Ganga Jal from Godavari river, at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on January 10. They did not use mobile phones and shunned smoking while bringing the water.

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They arrived in Indervelli mandal centre and visited Indradevi temple.

They performed traditional prayers at the shrine and worshipped the deity before having community lunch on the shrine premises. They were welcomed by members of the local Mesram clan. and joined by some other tribals. They would be leaving for Keslapur village at night.

The tribals will stay under banyan trees for four days before commencing a five-day Nagoba temple by performing Maha Puja on January 28.

The Nagoba jatara, celebrated in the month of Poos or Pushya, features Maha Puja, Bheting, introduction of new daughters-in-law to the deity, village fair or jatara at the holy place, Praja Darbar, a grievance redressal, Betal Puja, etc. Half a dozen Raj Gond elders get possessed by the Betal god. They exhibit their fighting prowess by rotating large sticks that represent the god.

Nagoba Jatara is the second largest congregation of ethnic tribes belonging to several parts of not only Telangana, but also Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after the famed biennial Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara in Medaram of Mulugu district.