The 276th birth anniversary of saint-philosopher Sant Sevalal Maharaj revered as kul guru by the Banjaras turned out to be that rare occasion on Friday when the community gathers at one place in all its splendour.
About 3,000 Lambada tribals gathered in Adilabad to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations organised by the State government.
Banjaras take out procession
The community took out a procession in the town with the portrait of Sant Sevalal Maharaj adorning a palanquin. The participants performed the traditional Lambada dance in the procession.
Housing and Endowment Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, BC Welfare and Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, who were chief guests at the celebrations, promised all possible help from the government for the community to prosper.
They informed the gathering that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government under the leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had supported the community in all its endeavours towards development.
Community leaders, including the national vice-president of the All India Banjara Seva Sangh and former Minister Amar Singh Tilawat, Sant Sevalal Maharaj Utsav Committee honorary president Banoth Jalam Singh and several others, spoke about the problems faced by the community and the need to address them.
Among those who participated were the Sant Prem Singh head guru of Sevalal Deeksha Bhumi in Narnoor, Bhajankar Namdev Maharaj, MLAs A. Rekha Naik of Khanapur, Rathod Bapu Rao of Boath and G. Vittal Reddy of Mudhole, besides District Collector M. Jagan Mohan and ITDA Project Officer B. Srinivas.
