Gandhari Jatara begins on colourful note in Telangana’s Mancherial

Naikpods offered holy dip to wooden sculptures representing Sadar Bheemanna and other deities in Godavari river

Mancherial: The annual Gandhari Khilla Jatara, an important religious and cultural affair of Rodda clan of Naikpods, began at the ancient Gandhari fort on a colourful note on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta village in Mandamarri mandal on Friday.

Naikpods offered holy dip to wooden sculptures representing Sadar Bheemanna and other deities in Godavari river near Mancherial town and brought them to a temple on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta in a procession. They danced to drum beats and ceremoniously performed prayers at the shrine. They stayed at the temple of Bheemanna for a day, as part of their age-old tradition.

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The Roddas will conduct Mahapuja to Maisamma and other deities on the picturesque fort and ceremoniously worship them on the second day of the fair on Saturday. Cultural programmes and dance shows such as Thappetagullu and Pillanagrovi by artistes of Naikpod community will be presented on Saturday midnight. A Praja Darbar is going to be conducted to address grievances of Adivasis on the final day of the fair on Sunday.

Tribals from not only several parts of Telangana, but neighbouring Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh would congregate at the fort and offer special prayers to the deity. They dine under the trees and soak in nature. They visit different parts of the scenic fort.

The fort is believed to have been built by a tribal king Meda Raju, who had ruled over this region, by taking assistance from Kakatiya rulers in 900 AD. Similarly, it has idols of Kala Bhairava Swamy, Lord Siva, Lord Ganesh, Hanuman, 10-headed Naga Sheshu and idols of various deities chiseled out of rocks.