Palluru Falls - A picturesque Beauty

Yesterday, I visited Palluru falls or palluru jalapatam locality. It is well known to me  through some Telugu papers. Falls and surroundings of the location is very much of  serene beauty. You can here the sounds of cuckoos,water falls and songs or music of visitors altogether. This place is now starting to attract school children and other people as a picnic spot.

      Palluru is nearby Mothugudem. A hydel-elctricity project  is there.Both mothu gudem and palluru located in a  lush green area. River Seeleru is seen here, flowing from the forests of Odisha. To go this place..You have number of buses or hired cars from Bhadrachalam.Almost 96 K.M. from here.

One must visit this place in the months of november to january....Dense forest...in that ...a village like mothugudem with power plant...and its quarters...constructions...some temples...calmness all around...except
visitors...Do you believe or not ..I thought of it one kind of Malgudi. (Long live R.K.Narayan)

Cains' photo Found

I have already  written a post on the topic of British people burials at Mulakapadu village on 27 Nov,2012. I happen to meet some senior  citizens in this connection to acquire their photos.Even whatever older they  are..which could bring some excellent support to the write-up.But my efforts gone in futile.

         To all  of my surprise , one of my friends Malyasri informed me on 25 of this month to come to his house to receive the photograph of  Cains couple.As per the information of Mrs.Sara cain on the tomb,she  came to India in 1875 and buried in 1934.So the photograph must be of above 78 years older.

He told me that he got it from a person when he was doing his job as  a village extension officer nearby mulakapadu. He also informed me that she was a very good  teacher and taught lace work to the local people.

My photo with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

I was photographed with Hindustani Music legend Pandit Bhimsen Joshi  in this picture.It was happened in the year of 1991.Myself and my friend Pratap went to the house of Joshi ji to have an interview which later printed in "kadhanjali" ( a chennai based telugu monthly).

We have talked to that great legend in his own house of Pune.He offered us coffee and chatted many things about his childhood and music learning days.When the time of having this photo I did not have a digital camera.it's pity that lighting angle affected the clarity of it. Anyway,It was one of the  happiest moments in my life.

An eternal Sacrifice turned Godliness

Here in this pictures you are seeing the worship- place of Sammakka-Sarakka at Edira Guttalu. Located in the mandal of Venkatapuram,Khammam district.For every two years , there occurs a great "jatara",people came from the places around it and far away as well.

In fact,the original abode of these Goddesses are at "medaram"in warangal district.We should know some history here..! Both these Goddessess Sammakka and Sarakka were lived in the times of  kakatiya dynasty in flesh and blood.They were belonging to Tribal clan of Koyas.Sammakka married Pagididda Raju and bore Saralakka,Nagulamma and Jampanna.

These  queen Sammakka and princess Saralakka fought against kakatiya dynasty to defend their kingdom. These were smaller chieftains can't co op with the taxes levied by powerful kakatiya kings.Both these women of valour were killed in the battle brutally when they revolted for the sake of their people.

Their younger prince named Pagidadda raju had committed suicide due to no way out   and by insult happened to his kinsfolk.He drowned in the river that was being called by jampanna vaagu.After this, local tribal people erected three wooden poles in memory of  their sacrifices at medaram. In the course of time it turned as a big  pilgrim place.Festival celebrated once  for every two years.Almost  more than 1 crore people will come here and Govt declared it as a  national level festival. Devotees visit this place without any  variations of  caste,creed or religion.

Entire pooja is done by Tribal purohits only.As a  matter of fact, this is called veera pooja or Hero worship in other words held in the names of  deceased lofty souls to remember their great deeds.

Most important thing is you will find no temple or no big construction here.Except the 3 days of festival all this area remain dead calm...!

Note: Medaram,the main abode of these Devatas,is going to be swarmed with sea of people from 17 th to 20 th of this Febraury,2016.This is recorded as world's largest congregation and the place is 90 k.m. away from Warangal.

(Post re-presented on the occasion of forth coming Jatara)

Teppostavam Performed

Teppotsavam celebration performed today at Bhadrachalam. It is taken place 6 p.m.-8.p.m., There is heavy rush this time compared to last time.Lord Rama and other presiding deities had 5 rounds in Godavari in their swan like boat.Apart from Andhra pradesh, devotees from Odisha,Chattisgarh and karnataka are attended.

And these above photos are of Papikondalu cruise. One must see this grandeur of natural beauty of wild forest,mountains and river Godavari.Now it is getting very popular and drawing many tourists from all corners of India.You have many agents ant APTDC resort (apart from others) to reserve ticket to this boat cruise at Bhadrachalam.They will arrange vehicles ,meals and boat comforts.Fare is not so high , around Rs.300-350.

You will have almost 5 hours cruise to reach Perantapalli. Boat does't start from Bhadrachalam.It starts from a village named pochampalli.Agent will manage you to get there by bus.No problem.  

TEPPOTSAVAM

Bhadrachalam,being a prominent pilgrim place in Andhra pradesh,getting ready for its "Teppotsavam"o the eve of 23 december.This celebration is done every year from time unknown,some people say it was started in the time of Saint Ramadasa. Nine days Before this celebration are also very important.Ever day Lord vishnumurthy takes one 'avataram' up to ten days.On tenth day ,with last avataram,a special celebration teppotsavam also takes place.All these ten days offer classical dances,musical concerts,harikadha programmes to the devotees.

Because of  these concerts on this special  occasion, I was  fortunate to meet so many   musical legends like great sitar maestro pandit Ravishankar (in my school days),Shri.Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna and Shri.Jesudas so on. Teppotsavam means simply a boat riding in the Godavari by Lord Rama and others.This will be done almost 6p.m-8p.m. in the smooth breezing ambience of river Godavari.

The boat also decorated just like a swan.Crackers shed it's booming sound while riding of the boat.Devotees and visitors throng there in great number.One must feel that pleasant moments,no words reveal it perfectly.Anyhow, I will post on 24 Dec., the full details and photos of Teppotsavam.

How is it...?

My Visit to Shirdi

Recently, I have had a trip to Shirdi and Shanisinganar pur. This was due to an obligation purely. My colleague (Sri.Adinarayana)  asked me to accompany him as he had none to give company in his journey.He knew my craziness about travelling.Accepted his request not only for the sake of himself but also for my desire to visit the place where a great yogi maharaj lived.

I captured some movements through these pics in Shirdi and Shanisinganapur. Perhaps you like it.

Megalithic burials found

Kaliveru,a small village,roughly 40 k.m. away from Bhadrachalam is an obscure place to even many of its surrounding villagers.But it has great monuments of pre- historic period.On the hillock of kaliveru,there are hundreds of megalithic burials which are called as "Raakshasa Guullu" in Telugu.It is to be believed that all these were built in the megalithic period,that means almost 3000 years back.

Last Sunday,I have visited that location along with my friend.First we had to go up a hillock which is of some hundreds of meters in  height.The hillock filled with very dense forest,especially it's left side.Right side,the forestation seems damaged due to several reasons.On the top of hillock,there is a narrow way in the midst of trees and bushes.

We have found several burials alongside the narrow way.Most of the burials covered four sides with rock plates.On its top,there was a big flat rock on each burial.It was just like a cradle in which body to be dumped.All the burials are in rectangular dolmens shape to see.

Some burials damaged very badly.Some seemed to be dug up.Several other ones crushed and its inside rocks came out and scattered like anything.There were round shaped rocks inside burials came out because of  a rough deal made by perhaps some hooligans.

When we asked an old man who met us on the hillock told that there were wild animals in the deep of this forest.He also told there were some hundreds of burials like these if we  go further deep.In his childhood days,he along with his friends came here for cattle rearing.There were some pots inside burials filled with  ash,bones and metal pieces.

We thanked him got back as it was about sunset.Next time we must go there with full preparation to see the burials that are located in the deep forest. There was some kind of excitement in us  that we have seen the place where the people buried some thousands of years back.