Nagula Chaviti
This
is observed on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month
of either Sravana or Kartika. This is a pre-historic celebration
of Naga or Serpent-worship observed throughout Andhra. Every
village in Andhra has some or other Naga idol carved in stone or wood.
Generally the women fast on this day and propitiate Nagas by offering
fresh, un-boiled cow's milk. Many families have ant - hills
which have been worshipped for generations. Miniature silver
eyes and hoods of the Serpent God are placed on the ant - hills and
coconuts are broken. Some people have gold and silver images
along with their family deities for daily worship. Charimidi, Pamakam
and vada pappu are the special dishes for this day. After praying
to the Naga for protection of the family and children, particularly
from snake bite, people smear their eyes and ears with the earth from
the ant - hills. There are many Telugu folk songs sung in the
praise of the Serpent God.
Poleramma Festival
This festival is
celebrated for three days. A big kumbham is offered and after, it is mixed
with the blood of sacrificial buffalo. It is placed on the head of a
person who scatters it around the village. At that time no outsider is
allowed to stay there as it is believed that if an outsider carries away the
bali, his village would receive the blessings of the gods and not the village
that worship the goddess. So the person carrying the bali is watched
carefully and swords are waved over to him.
Ankamma Festival
Ankamma festival is
celebrated for five days in the month of Ashadha. The deity is placed in a
palanquin and taken in a procession early in the morning. The floor is
decorated with rangavali. A heap of cooked rice is offered and a ram is
sacrificed on the evening of the following day. Ankamma on a tiger -
shaped vehicle and her sister Mahalakshmamma on a jackal - shaped vehicle are
taken to a four- shelled cart, along with a basket. The villagers drop
neem leaves and cooked rice into the basket. A lizard, a pig, a goat, a
fowl and a human form made of flour are impaled on the spikes of the cart.
The procession goes to the temple accompanied by the music and dance. On
the fourth day devotees observe a fast and fulfill their vows. Balls of
rice flour and jaggery are offered to Ankamma, Mahalakshmamma, poleramma and
poturaj carts with vessels of cooked rice and bengal gram are taken around the
temple and offered to the deity. A ram and a goat are sacrificed to
Ankamma, Mahalakshmamma respectively. On the fifty day, Ankamma and
Mahalakshmamma go hunting towards the north of the village on the respective
vehicles. There a ram's ear is cut and the ram is driven to the temple.
All things necessary for a feast to Ankamma and her relatives are provided in
the temple and its doors are closed for three days. It is believed that if
anyone opens the door within these three days, his head would break into pieces.
Avu Devata Festival
The Avu Devata
festival is celebrated for three days in the month of Jyeshtha. On the
first day the devotees go to the cave and worship the deity whose idol is
brought in a carriage decorated with flowers and installed at a certain place.
On the second day several other idols are brought there. On the third day
these deities are offered Puja and the people who should follow them back to
their places are fed. In the evening, these deities are given a send - off
and the Avu Devata is also taken back after the cave in the hill is decorated
and worshipped. Ordinary umbrellas, silk umbrellas, embroidered
umbrellas and peacock feathers are offered to the deity in fulfillment of
vows. A fair is held in connection with this festival.
Dappepallc in Rayachoti taluk of Cuddapah district has
Brahmagiri, a cave with
the images of Erreddaiah and Paseddaiah and the form of a cow. It was
believed that, in the distant past, two bulls born in the village exhibited
super natural powers. To perpetuate their memory the villagers deified
them and the images of the bulls and their cow were kept in a cave. Even
now when the rains fail, the priest takes bath and goes to the cave in his wet
clothes to worships 'Avu Devata'. They will offer coconuts, milk, sugar, incense
and eatables. It is believed that it generally rains within a week.
Jayanti of Manikya Prabhu
The Jayanti of Manikya Prabhu, the incarnation of
Dattatreya, is celebrated for five
days in a month of Margasira on a grand scale. It attracts devotees from
the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.