The annual five-day ‘Rottela Panduga’ (roti festival), a symbol of religious harmony, began on the banks of the Swarnala Cheruvu in the surroundings of the Bara Shahid Dargah here on Sunday amid the arrival of huge crowds of devotees.
The roads and lanes leading to the roti festival venue witnessed hectic traffic through the day. The devotees, including women and children, stepped into the 2 to 3 feet water level in the tank and exchanged rotis for fulfillment of their wishes.
Most pilgrims arriving here make wishes for good health, success in educational and job aspirations, and wealth and prosperity.
‘Situation improved’
“There is a lot of change here now. The water approach places are very well developed and all of us could stand in the water for sometime,” said Rasheed, who arrived with his family from Hyderabad to take part in the festival.
The sprawling area on the Swarnala Cheruvu bund was developed with concrete water front ghats and also equipped with facilities for entertainment of women and children.
Besides exchanging rotis, the pilgrims visit the tombs of the 12 martyrs at the Bara Shahid Dargah and pay their respects.
The police officials imposed traffic diversions and got sign boards put up at several places for directing pilgrims’ vehicles to be parked in the designated locations.
Packed road
The Nellore-Podalakuru road in the Rottela Panduga venue surroundings was packed with devotees.
It is lined on either side with stalls where the vendors sold different products associated with the festival and daily needs of people like blankets and utensils.
Roadside eateries came up in large numbers in the dargah area to cater to the visiting crowds.
This year, special surveillance by drones has been taken up to ensure maximum security for women and girls.
Round-the-clock watch is being placed at the venue for the next five days.
