21. POLERAMMA JATARA Venkatagiri

Goddess Poleramma is a Pre Vedic deity goddess, who is predominantly worshipped in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

It's believed that this festival has a long time ago during the time of Venkatagiri rajas in the mid-18th century local people believed that the goddess herself came and used to talk with the rajas during the time of festival. It is usually held every year on 3rd Wednesday and Thursday after Vinkayaka Chavithi.



Poleramma Mother belongs to the Seven Dravidian Sister Goddesses. The seven deities are Poleramma, Ankamma, Muthyalamma, Dilli Polasi, Bangaramma, Mathamma and Renuka. The Seven sisters are popular in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.





The carnival continues for four days. 


Poleramma Jatara is celebrated with grandeur. Though Kalivelamma is the village goddess, Poleramma Jatara which is the custom of Rajas became very famous. It's celebrated every year with pride of Venkatagiri citizens. Also large number of people will turn up for this occasion from near villages and nearer cities like Nellore, Tirupati, Sri Kalahasti and Chennai as well.





On the first day the pot is taken from the tree and carried throughout the village which is accompanied by the beating of drums. When it is carried past each house the people come out and bow in worship before it. The aadi calls upon the elders to witness, calling each one by name and announces the various vows that have been made to Poleramma. Thereafter a sheep is sacrificed to seal the promise made in the vows. Once again similar procession takes place and the pot is carried around the village, food being collected at each house. The temple is also purified with various ceremonies. The stone image is bathed and some offerings are placed before her. The procession now goes to the water where the royal staff and the snake's hoods have been kept in water overnight. These are taken and carried to the temple after a sheep has been offered. After placing all this beside Poleramma in the temple, the ceremonies of the first day is complete.





On the second day, there are still some more processions about the village and the food is offered in front of the house of another shepherd. 





On the third day, the procession starts earlier and more food is collected. After some rituals the merry-making takes place. The villagers bring their decorated carts and oxen and form a procession to go around the temple. After the procession of carts, the people bring sheep, goats, and chickens which are offered to Poleramma. This ends the ceremonies of the third day.






The fourth day is the greatest day of the festival. It has the most revolting features of any part of the ceremonies. A huge heap of boiled cholam, kaffir corn, is poured out before the goddess and the sacrificed animal is brought. Several rituals are performed after this. When Poleramma's worship is over, a sheep is offered to Potu Razu, and some of the food is poured before him. Prayers are offered to him in order to guard the village and this brings the ceremonies to an end.

If we are away from the village cannot go and see the Jatara then we can even celebrate at home. First a rangoli is made on the floor and then that is covered with Neem leaves, 1 bigger and 4 smaller rice balls are made. The bigger one is kept in the centre with 4 others surrounding it. 


On the top of the bigger rice ball, throughly cooked Red Gram or tur dal is kept long with throughly washed and boiled linseed tree leaves and drumstick tree leaves are kept.


2 Cotton twigs are kept on each of the smaller Rice balls and lit with match stick and then we all pray to Goddess for Peace and Prosperity :)

I don't know the significance of doing so, but we have been celebrating like this since a long time :)

Information source:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleramma

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poleramma_Jatara_venkatagiri

Thank you for stopping by :)


I hope you all have a good day :)







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20. POSTCARDS [ISKCON TEMPLE Bengaluru]

In 1977, Madhu Pandit Dasa opened a temple of ISKCON in Bangalore as a part of expansion initiatives of ISKCON in Southern India. 

ISKCON Bangalore was built on Hare Krishna Hill in Rajaji Nagar. It's one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world. It's known for its celebration of festivals like Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Ratha Yatra, Jhulan, Gaura Purnima and few others festivals related to the avatar of Lord Vishnu or with Vedic Culture. 

The temple has a streamlined process to funnel them through in an efficient manner, this winds you through a variety of opportunities to purchase all sorts of items. I did buy a few things and I ate food in the canteen. The food was nice, but nothing special. As with many temples, there is a shoe checkpoint at the beginning. Larger bags are not allowed either, so must be checked when you enter also. Same thing with cameras, they stay in the bag which is why I could not take many pictures.

These are the postcards from the same place :)

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by :) 
and
I hope you all have a good day :)





I would like to sincerely thank Jasmine Rahul for taking time and commenting on a previous post, Photographs #19 VIJAYADASHAMI.
Your few words really mean a lot, thank you :)

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19. VIJAYADASHAMI

Wishing 

you

and 

your

family, friends

a

very 

Happy Vijaya Dashami

May

Goddess Durga

destroy all evil around

you,

and fill your life with

Happiness 

and

Prosperity :)

Thank you for stopping by :)

I hope you all have a good day :)

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Photographs #18 RANDOM CLICKS #3 Flowers #2

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Photographs #20 POSTCARDS [ISKCON TEMPLE Bengaluru]

18. RANDOM CLICKS #3 Flowers #2

Once when I went to my village, my neighbors managed to have all the flowers on the plant. The plant looked really beautiful with all the flowers on it.

When I searched for these plants, I came to know that these flowers are called Oleander.

Oleander has historically been considered a poisonous plant because some of its compounds may exhibit toxicity, especially to animals, when consumed in large amounts.

Oleander poisoning occurs when someone eats the flowers or chews the leaves or stems of the oleander plant, or its relative, the yellow oleander.

So, if we have these plants at home, we better be careful especially if we have children and pets at our home.

Thank you for stopping by :)

I hope you all have a good day :)

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Photographs #17 RANDOM CLICKS #2 Flowers

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Photographs #19 VIJAYADASHAMI

17. RANDOM CLICKS #2 Flowers

We, at our home, perform puja with different kinds of flowers.

When my dad brought red roses once, I was just fascinated by one took some random pictures.

The flower looked beautiful with leaves on one side :)

I was not able to do justice to its beauty. 

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by 

and 

I hope you all have a good day :)

I would like to sincerely thank sharoon for taking her time and commenting on a previous post, Photographs #16 BUDDHA STATUE. 

Your few words really mean a lot :) Thank you :)

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Photographs #18 RANDOM CLICKS #3 Flowers #2

16. BUDDHA STATUE

The Buddha Statue of Hyderabad is the world's tallest monolith of Gautama Buddha.

 N. T. Rama Rao during his tenure chose to depict Gautama Buddha because "he was a humanitarian who told the whole truth to the people. It is our pride." 

For over a year, hundreds of laborers helped the temple architect and builder S.M.Ganapathi Sthapati created the statue. After five years and the expenditure of US$3 million, the statue stood at 58 feet (18 m) and weighed 350 tons, making it the world's tallest monolithic statue of the Buddha.

This statue is located at Lumbini Park in the Hussain Sagar Island can be reached by boat in 15 minutes.

It is one of the main tourist attractions in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Visiting at the night time gives anyone the best experience with the lights and full moon. There is laser show as well for enjoyment of the tourists but we need to be there on time :) This is really a good place to spend with your family and friends :)

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by 
and 
I hope you all have a good day :)




I would like to sincerely thank Jasmine Rahul for taking her time and commenting on a previous post, Photographs #15 GANESH CHATURTHI #2. 
Your words really mean a lot :) Thank you :)

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Photographs #17 RANDOM CLICKS #2 Flowers

15. GANESH CHATURTHI #2

Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival that reveres Lord Ganesha.

Public celebrations are popular during this festive season. 

The lanes are decorated with various dancing lights. The entrance of the lane has a special decoration of lights.

I took the pictures of the decorations outside my home, the lights were beautiful during the midnight with dark sky :)

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by 
and 
I hope you all have a good day :)

I would like to sincerely thank Jasmine Rahul for taking her time and commenting on a previous post, Photographs #14 GANESH CHATURTHI. Your words really mean a lot :) Thank you :)

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