It’s different Ugadi here

Kurnool: Telugu New Year- Ugadi is celebrated quite differently by the farmers and washermen along with the animals close to their hearts in Kurnool district. This celebration is organised inside the Kallur Chowdeswari Mata Temple compound in the town’s centre with bulls and donkeys pulling the decorated bullock-carts. going round the temple ten times in slush that is spread out for the occasion.

Devotees pray the Goddess for fulfillment of their wishes and when their prayers are answered they redeem vows by taking part in this event. This is a tradition which is being observed by the fourth generation. Thousands of people across the district watch the spectacle. Excited onlookers jump with joy as the carts move.

The excitement is more when the bulls get stuck in the slush. The younger lot in the crowd pull out the animals, most of the time themselves become muddy. Hundreds of ryots across Kurnool district reach the village to experience the festive atmosphere during the Telugu New Year celebrations. They worship the Goddess before joining the festivities.“We started the arrangements ten days before the festival.

We have to create slush around the temple. The number of visitors is increasing year by year. We are planning to make this event in a big way in future,” said, Venkateswarlu, chairman of the temple committee. Once farmers complete their participation in the exciting event on Ugadi, washermen take over the next day, bringing their decorated donkeys to the temple in a procession after travelling long distances. En route they sing and dance, making merry.