Telangana: Mesrams of Adilabad to set off to fetch Ganga Jal on January 10

Venkat Rao stated that the Mesrams began their Kachur prachar (publicity) using a bullock cart in Keslapur village on Friday. On Saturday, they planned to place an order for sacred pots, which would be used for performing rituals during the fair at Rajampet village in Sirikonda mandal. Later that evening, they would travel from Rajampet to Koladi village in Gudihathnoor mandal.

Adilabad: The Mesrams will set off to fetch holy water or Ganga Jal from Godavari river, at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on January 10 as part of Nagoba Jatara, a five day-long important annual religious and cultural affair of the clan slated for January 28. Led by the head of Peeth, Venkat Rao, members of the clan convened a meeting and decided the dates of the fair at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on Friday.

According to Venkat Rao, the Mesrams commenced Kachur prachar or publicity by bullock cart at Keslapur village on Friday. They would place an order to buy sacred pots to be used for performing various rituals during the fair at Rajampet village in Sirikonda mandal on Saturday. They would travel from Rajampet to Koladi village in Gudihathnoor mandal on Saturday evening.

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The Mesrams would then reach Soyamguda from Koladi on Sunday. They would leave for Soyaguda to Ginnera in Indervelli mandal on January 6, before arriving in Saleguda in Utnoor mandal on January 7. They would enter Vadgaon village in Indervelli mandal on January 8 and then stay at the residence of the elders of the clan on January 9 and to decide the course of journey for bringing holy water from Godavari river.

Around 100 Mesrams will begin the 150 km long arduous trek to gather holy water from a spot called Hasthanamadugu near Kalamadugu village in Jannaram mandal of Mancherial district on January 10. They will return to Indervelli mandal centre covering many villages by January 27. They revere the snake deity by performing Maha Puja to kick-start Nagoba Jatara on January 28.

The Nagoba jatara, celebrated in the month of Poos or Pushya, features Maha Puja, Bheting, introduction of new daughter-in-laws 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 jump in the air reportedly after getting 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.