Mesram clan honours Kanaka Raju
Adilabad: Ghusadi dance exponent Kanaka Raju was felicitated by members of Mesram clan for being nominated for Padma Shri at the ongoing Nagoba Jatara at Keslpaur village in Indervelli mandal on Sunday.
Raju was felicitated with a shawl and was presented a portrait of the presiding deity of Nagoba temple for winning the fourth highest civilian award of the country. Mesram Manohar, one of the members of the clan said that Raju brought recognition to the Raj Gond community by bagging the award. He said that the dance master had been striving hard for protecting the traditional dance form of the ethnic tribes.
The Mesrams performed traditional rituals Bankan and Mandagajili as part of the fourth day of Nagoba fair, an important religious and cultural affair of the clan. They earlier worshipped Persapen and Ban, the deities of the tribe and presented Naivedyam to the gods. Newly married daughter-in-laws of this clan fetched water from a holy pond and danced to folk songs on Saturday.
Head of the clan Mesram Venkat Rao, priest or Katoda Mesram Hanumantha Rao, Pradhan Mesram Tukdoji, Tirupati and many others were present.
Meanwhile, Adilabad MLA Jogu Ramanna visited the ancient temple and performed special prayers. He instructed authorities concerned to avoid inconvenience to the devotees. He visited stalls erected by various government departments. He said that the government granted funds for improving basic amenities at the shrine. He was received by organisers of the fair and officials concerned.
About 30,000 indigenous people belonging to several parts of Telangana and neighboring Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar arrived in the remote Keslapur by cars, trolleys, jeeps and auto-rickshaws. They thronged the shrine and offered prayers. They broke coconuts as a token of gratitude for their well-being.
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