Over 5 lakh visit dargah for roti fest

Nellore: Bara Shaheed Dargah had witnessed heavy influx of pilgrims during the four-day long unique Rottela Panduga event notwithstanding continuous downpour at the fag-end of the popular festival.

Even as rain drenched them, devotees worshipped at the dargah and exchanged rotis as usual on Saturday and Sunday when it rained in Nellore.

Seer of Kadapa pedda dargah Arifullah Husseini has performed Gandham ritual (applying sandalwood paste to the tombs of the 12 martyrs) at the dargah during the early hours of Sunday.
Police had a tough time in controlling the swelling crowds that gathered to have glimpse of the ritual and collect the sandalwood paste.

Among others, Nellore rural legislator Anam Vivekananda Reddy, Wakf Board inspector Hyder Basha and festival committee chairman Aziz were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the holy event claimed that more than five lakh devotees offered prayers at the dargah and exchanged rotis at nearby Swarnala Cheruvu (Nellore tank).

Dargah muzavar (chief priest) Md. Rafi said that devotees started arriving to the dargah from November 11 onwards although the festival is scheduled between November 15 and 18.

Reacting to a question, the muzavar said that the practice of exchanging rotis started during Arcot Nawab regime after the wife of the nawab offered rotis to her entourage at the dargah.

She came to pay genuflection when she got relief from her prolonged illness after she prayed the 12 warriors as per the advice of a woman belonging to washer men community. The nawab had constructed the dargah as a token or gratitude thereafter.

“Offering rotis became a tradition of sorts because of the wife of Arcot Nawab. Lakhs of people are coming and the number has been increasing every year because the devotees are getting answers to their prayers.

Those who got benefited are spreading the word and this is the reason for increasing number of devotees,” muzavar Md. Rafi asserted. The festival concluded on Monday.