Grand Oora Panduga Procession Draws Thousands

NIZAMABAD: Thousands of devotees participated in the annual Oora Panduga celebrations in Nizamabad on Sunday as the city witnessed a grand procession marked by devotion and traditional fervour.

The village deity idols were taken out in a colourful procession from the Quilla Sharadamba Gadde. Devotees chanted "Puloriya" as the procession passed through the city's main thoroughfares.

The district administration made elaborate arrangements for the festival. The idols were carved and consecrated at Vadladhati on Saturday evening before being taken to Sirnapalli Gadi for rituals. They were later brought to the Quilla Sharadamba Gadde near the fort's main entrance on Sunday.

After special prayers at the Quilla, the procession commenced, followed by the traditional 'Sari' distribution programme at Gajulpet. The Bandaru Posina ritual marked the formal commencement of the celebrations across the city.

Members of the Sarva Samaj Committee and various community organisations participated in the arrangements over the weekend. Nizamabad Urban MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana Gupta, Mayor K. Uma Rani, Sarva Samaj president, former MLA Endala Laxminarayana and leaders of the Congress, BJP and BRS offered special prayers at the Quilla Sharadamba Gadde.

Police made elaborate security arrangements along the procession route. A brief commotion occurred during the distribution of 'Sari' at Vivekananda Chowrasta, but police brought the situation under control.

Sarva Samaj Committee convener Ramarthi Gangadhar, co-convener Ade Praveen Kumar, committee member Gandla Lingam, TPCC leader Narala Ratnakar, BJP corporators Malkai Mahender and Nyalam Raju, City Congress president Bobbili Ramakrishna, Janasena leader Meesala Srinivasa Rao and other leaders participated in the celebrations.