Watch: For last 58 years and counting, this Telangana village has recited Bhagavad Gita every day without break

The villagers are also well versed in Kolatam and playing of the harmonium and tabla with the older generation conducting regular training programmes to pass on these arts to the future

Sangareddy: Gollapally village in Kondapur mandal, just 15 km from Sangareddy town, is a village with a difference. Here, for the last 58 years, elders, women and youth come together to recite the Bhagavad Gita every day. Read that again. Yes, every day, for the last 58 years.

The practice, which was started by Munagala Manik Reddy, Praveda Anji Reddy and Ivuram Narayan Reddy, all youngsters then, has been continuing until today without a break.

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Having attended a Bhagavad Gita recitation programme in another village, the trio decided to start the practice in their own village on the occasion of Dasara in 1967. Since then, generations of people born and brought up in the village have continued the practice.

Elders in the village wake up at 4 am every day and gather at the Hanuman Mandir at 4.30 am and continue the recitation until 6 am. Later, women in the village gather at the temple at 7 pm and continue till 8 pm. The youth of the village then take over for the third session from 8 pm.

Until 2009, the recitation used to be only once in a day, in the morning. But with the villagers deciding to involve everyone, it went for three sessions. From among Manik Reddy, Narayan Reddy and Anji Reddy, only Anji Reddy remains, and he is still active, regularly participating in the programme.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Panduranga Reddy, grandson of Manik Reddy, said his father, mother and others in the family had followed the footsteps of his grandfather. At least one person from every family participates in one of the recitation programme regularly.

The villagers are also well versed in Kolatam and playing of the harmonium and tabla with the older generation conducting regular training programmes to pass on these arts to the future. The village also has about 50 artists, who can stage a variety of plays including the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Lava Kusha, Mallanna Puranam, Potuluri Veerabramendra Swamy Katha, Nalla Pochamma Katha and many others.

During Dasara, Rama Navami, and other occasions, these artists stage various performances and also encourage the younger generation to start their acting career with minor characters. Interestingly, those who migrated to other places, return to their villages during these special occasions and join these cultural events.

Also, the youth here stay away from boozing, smoking and other vices. There are no belt shops in Gollapally, which has a population of 3,000, unlike their neighbouring villages.

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