Nellore: Stage is set for annual Rottela Panduga which is scheduled to begin at popular Bara Shaheed Dargah from Thursday.
People from all faiths participate in this unique festival, where people offer rotis to the almighty in lieu of their fulfilled desires and those with similar wish, pick them up.
The exchange of rotis takes place at Nellore tank, which is also known as ‘Swarnala Cheruvu’, located close to the dargah.
The rotis are named after the desires of the individuals such as marriage, job, money, children, higher education, prosperity, own house, foreign visit and even Samaikyandhra too.
Local authorities have installed boards for each category of roti at the tank thus reducing the burden of enquiring for the kind of roti one is in need of.
Before offering rotis, the devotees offer prayers at Bara Shaheed Dargah at the tombs of 12 martyrs, who had sacrificed their lives in a battle against British troops in 1751, a year which marked the siege of Arcot during a series of Carnatic wars.
As per the legend, 12 warriors were beheaded by rival forces at a place called Gandavaram, 15 km away from Nellore.
The headless bodies were brought back by the horses they were riding to the present dargah area in Nellore and the place became popular because they were buried at the spot and a Dargah was built thereafter.
Organisers of the festival have been expecting more than five lakh devotees from all corners of the country apart from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Gulf countries.
Elaborate arrangements are being made to conduct the festival without any inconvenience to the lakhs devotees from different places thronging the Dargah.
Next: Seven teams to take care of cleanliness at roti fest
Seven teams to take care of cleanliness at roti fest
Nellore: Nellore Municipal Corporation has been gearing up to maintain hygienic conditions at Bara Shaheed Dargah where the annual Rottela Panduga is all set to commence from Thursday.
According to health officer of the civic body, Dr P. Ramana, the Dargah area has been divided into seven zones and 20 sanitary workers headed by one supervisor allotted to each zone to maintain the sanitation.
The cleaning work will continue round-the-clock and the teams will change for every 8 hours. Temporary toilets have been established close to the tank to enable 500 men and 250 women use them at one go.
Similarly shower type bathrooms have been setup exclusively for women. Changing rooms are also arranged for both men and women close to the tank. A separate team is formed to clear and also prevent night soil in the area.
Dr Ramana said that they have seized plastic covers disposable glasses made out of plastic during a surprise check on the shops in Bara Shaheed Dargah area. The seized goods include 1,000 gutkha pockets and all the material was destroyed immediately.
He said that they have placed Dumper Bins all over the area and also kept two vehicles ready to transport the garbage in short intervals. Drinking water has been made available at different points and chlorination is being taken care of by the health wing, he added.
Dr Ramana said that engineering and town planning departments of civic body have been taking care of forming new roads inside the Dargah area. They are also taking care of drinking water, illumination and arranging shamianas for the benefit of devotees.
Meanwhile Nellore town DSP P. Venkatanath Reddy said that they have deputed a large number of police force for security arrangements for the three-day festival.
The department has posted seven deputy superintendent of police rank officers, 24 CIs, 200 SIs and assistant SIs, 650 constables, 50 women constables, 400 home guards and 100 reserve police for the festival.
