NIZAMABAD: A religious event on par with the Mahankali Bonalu in Secunderabad, the Oora Panduga (town festival) was held with pomp and gaiety in Nizamabad on Sunday. The faithful, especially women in large numbers, took part in the procession. Around one lakh people took part in the events.
The Sarva Samaj, an organisation of all communities, sponsored the celebrations. The procession began after priests performed pujas to the wooden idols of five goddesses at the historic Quilla.
Oora Panduga has been conducted in Nizamabad in the Ashada month for the last 85 years. Specially designed wooden idols of goddesses Pochamma, Maisamma, Samakka, Saralamma, Muthyalamma and Mahalaxmamma were taken out in the procession. The Nizamabad Municipal Corporation helped make the arrangements for the festival.
Bantu Rajeshwar, convener of Sarva Samaj committee, said Oora Panduga tradition began long ago to overcome the ill effects of a cholera epidemic. This has been continuing every year.
The ‘sari’ prasadam distributed during the Oora Panduga is sprayed in agriculture fields to have a good harvest, he said.
The procession of wooden idols is divided into three segments covering Vinayaknagar, Pedda Bazaar and Dubba. En route, the devotees sacrificed goats and hens as part of the ritual. Roads in Quilla, Gajulpet, Pedda Bazaar, Phulong, Vinayaknagar, Kanteshwar, Gandhi Chowk, Gandhi Gunj, the Gurbabadi road, Dubba and other areas witnessed the rituals.
Kunkuma pasupu was distributed to the devotees in the procession. Potha Rajus performed dances by positioning themselves in the front of the procession. They danced to the drumbeats during the daylong celebrations.
All through the procession, devotees chanted ‘Puloria Puloria’ slogans. The prayed to the goddesses with folded hands and broke coconuts en route.
Residents of Nizamabad believed that the blessing of the goddesses during Oora Panduga would protect them from diseases and provide more wealth.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Nizamabad police commissioner Praveen said some 400 cops were deployed for the security to Oora Panduga. The festival was celebrated peacefully.Vehicular traffic was regulated in the city during the entire duration of the procession.
Nizamabad urban MLA BG Gupta, mayor Kiran, Telangana state women cooperative development corporation chairperson Akula Lalitha, former MLA Endala Laxminarayana, TPCC working president Mahesh Goud, Narala Ratnakar, TDP parliamentary constituency in-charge Yada Goud, former mayor Akula Sujatha and others were present.
