Prabhalu Teertham, a 400-year-old ritual, celebrated in Konaseema

Thousands of onlookers cheered as a procession of chariots, each representing a village in Ambajipeta mandal, arrived at Jagannathota in B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on Wednesday as part of a tradition that goes back 400 years.

Atop each of the chariots, also called ‘Prabhalu’, is seated a portrait of Lord Siva.

Fifteen chariots were brought to Jaggannathota by the locals on the day of Kanuma, on which the ‘Prabhalu Teertham’ festival is celebrated.

Locals carried the chariots on their shoulders all the way from their villages and arrived at the venue in a grand procession through the lush green paddy fields, crossing the irrigation canals. The visitors, who thronged the venue to witness the ritual in large numbers, ran after the prabhalu to capture videos of the procession. Last year, 11 chariots were displayed by the locals at the Prabhalu Teertham.

Police said the ritual went off without incident, unlike last year when a person suffered injuries after an ox barged into the crowd of spectators.

The visitors from the surrounding villages arrived at the venue on bullock carts. Thousands of visitors from across the Godavari region witnessed the Prabhalu Teertham amid a large deployment of police personnel.

Published - January 15, 2025 10:22 pm IST