Standing on his 8-foot stilts. He and his group began a journey from the bells of Karnataka a few days ago, which would be a few days, and before they reached their destination, a arduous trek through the dense forest of Nallamala.
“The height of stilts rises every year; sometimes people use 10-foot sticks as stilts,” said Basawaraj, who had been pilgrimage for years during the Middle Ages. In the past, this provided snake protection when hiking through the forest. Now, he added, it has become the practice of some people.
Basavaraj and his group are part of pilgrims of over 20,000 rupees, mainly from Karnataka and Maharashtra, who hike hundreds of kilometers to each Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple on the occasion of the five-day ugadi brahmotsavamms. And, over the years, they have developed their own culture and traditions. This year’s music festival is celebrated on March 30.
While some people walk on stilts, such as those in Basavaraj, some people keep walking barefoot. Some devotees carry large sacks of products on their shoulders without placing them in kilometres, even in stone paths and sunlight.
Pilgrims enter Nallamala from the Atmakur side of the Nandyal region, from Sunnipenta to Telangana to enter Nallamala on different sizes and groups of devotees of different ages. Walking in the day and night Om Namasivaiah and Play Bhajans and traditional instruments like “Chidatalu” (cubicle).
Unlike Mahasivaratri Brahmotsavams, devotees visit the temple during a day of the nine-day celebrations, where the pilgrims arrive at the hills 4-5 days before Ugadi Brahmotsavams and stay there until the end of the festival. Many devotees are lingayaats.
“We regard the goddess’ Bhramaramba as our ‘Adapaduchu’ (daughter) and take the yield of our fields as ‘vadi biyyam’ (a traditional ritual) (a traditional ritual where a mother blesses her married daughter, turmeric, turmeric and coconut and hopes her prosperity), ””
He added: “A car, like a pickup truck, is with us throughout the journey, carrying cookware and other essentials. We walk around the roadside in the temple or at night. Only when we sleep can we put down the offerings. We take turns to carry them with us.” Vadi Biyyam Including rice, Belu He said (Raw Toor Dal), Jaggery, dry coconut and bracelet.
Some even bring gunny bags filled with rice or original dal, weighing up to 25 kg, which they carry on their own.
Nija Guna, a farmer in Mantralayam near the Karnataka border, said he has been visiting Srisailam every year for nearly a decade. “As long as we are strong enough, we can continue. This tradition will be driven by the younger generation of our family.”
The journey is not easy, but the devotees have no complaints. “Some people come from far away places in our state, walking nearly 500 kilometers. Those walking barefoot have their legs bruised and their toes are bleeding, but they have not stopped.”
The full charge atmosphere can be seen as the first devotees begin to enter the forest. “The pilgrimage reflects their dedication. Older, young, men and women travel hundreds of kilometers, some without even wearing slippers,”
MV Shivakumar Reddy is the convener of the Indian National Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (Intach-Nandyal) and the founder of the “Mana Ooru-Mana Gudi – Mana – Mana – Mana Bhadyatha” whose volunteer team organized a footprint bootcamp and provided a five-day medical camp in Nandikotkur for some relief. “It was an incredible experience for us. The devout people carried the idols of the gods of palanquins. They were singing and shouting Om Namasivaiah,” he said.
Their only goal is to get to Srisailam and camp there until Ugadi shows off their products and return. Shivakumar Reddy added: “They don’t talk or stop unnecessarily. They only call them ‘Mallanna’.
Shivakumar Reddy said they had organized the camps to provide respect and provide them with some relief. Among the volunteers participating in the medical camp organized by Intach-Nandyal, Dr. Abdul Khayum, a young homeopathic doctor from Kurnool district. He said: “The experience is great.’.
“Professionally, this is the first time I’ve seen a lot of people together. We’ve taken care of nearly 500 people in the medical camp,” he said.
Many devotees also brought the bulls from the village to Sri Salam. After returning, they brought the bull into the vehicle. They also carried the “Pratima” (image, graphics or statue) of Nandi (Bull) and Lord Siva.
Some people even take their horses and use them to carry their luggage. “On the last day, the same horse will perform stunts and dances in the Temple town. After that, we will take back our horses,” said another devotee, who brought a horse into the forest.
According to locals and officials of Srisilaran Temple, the number of devotees on hiking has never seen the roads of Ugadi Mahotsavams.
“I see a group of devotees walking on our streets. Sometimes they want water. They don’t say much. It may be a language barrier, but I believe they just don’t want to waste their energy on unnecessary things,” said K. Ravindra, a Ulchala resident in the outskirts of Kurnur.
Devotees usually cook food on the roadside, but over the past few years some philanthropists have been providing them with food, water, fruit and butter milk, “Jonna Rotte” (a delicious delicacy made with sorghum). Even medical camps are run by some people. A clumsy businessman in Maharashtra has been serving food to devotees in the middle of the forest route for several years.
Temple management and regional administration also arranged for devotees of Naramala Forest and Temple Town for devotees. Temple executive M. Srinivasa Rao arranged drinking water and temporary shelters in certain places within the forest and elsewhere in Hatakeswaram, Kailasa Dwaram and Temple Town.
Despite the danger of wildlife attacks during the trek through the forest, this did not stop devotees. A forest official seeking anonymity said the forest route had cleared the bushes before the pilgrims trek.
The devotion of devotees reached its peak before leaving the temple town. They danced on drum rhythm music, piercing tongues, cheeks, hands and legs with sharp iron rods. They also went to the “gundam” (the spread of burning coal) to recite scriptures Om Namasivaiah.
The devotees purchased “Nandi Kollu”, sacred threads and other items from Srisailam, and then took them home until the next year, when they discarded them and purchased new items.
Soon after Ugadi, devotees gradually returned home with horses and bulls. Karnataka State Road Transport Company (KSRTC) runs buses to devotees from Srisailam to various regions of the state.
Temple officials said the nine-day Mahasivaratri Brahmotsavams have witnessed devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which are devotees from Karnataka and Maharashtra who visited the temple in large numbers during the five-day Ugadi Mahotsavams.
publishing – April 5, 2025 09:02 AM IST
