The Peddagattu (Gollagattu) Jatara at Durajpally near Suryapet is the great biennial festival of Sri Lingamanthula Swamy and his sister Choudamma, the family deities of the Golla (Yadava) community. For about five days, lakhs of devotees of every background gather on the hillock with drums, bonams and vows – the second-largest jatara in Telangana after Medaram.
Festival Dates
Dates for the next celebration will be updated soon.
Introduction
The Peddagattu Jatara – also called the Gollagattu Jatara – is held at Durajpally, near Suryapet in Telangana, in honour of Sri Lingamanthula Swamy, revered as a form of Lord Shiva, and his sister Choudamma. It takes place once every two years, in the month of Magha (around January–February), and lasts for about five days. For the shepherd families of the Golla (Yadava) community, Lingamanthula Swamy is a kuladaivam – a family deity – but devotees of every background come from across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. It is counted as the second-largest jatara in Telangana, after the Medaram Jatara.
Significance and Legend
Lingamanthula Swamy is worshipped as the protector of the shepherds' flocks, their homes and their livelihood, and devotees pray to him and to Choudamma for healthy herds, good rains, children and the welfare of the family. His story belongs to the living folk tradition of rural Telangana and is passed down by the traditional storytellers of the Golla community, sung and narrated to the rhythm of drums.
How it is Celebrated
- The opening procession: the jatara begins with the ceremonial procession that brings the deity's sacred items to the hillock, accompanied by drums, music and dancing devotees.
- Bonams and vows: over the following days, devotees offer bonams, fulfil their vows and seek darshan of Lingamanthula Swamy and Choudamma; offerings are made according to each family's custom.
- Folk arts: drums, songs and the narration of the Lord's story fill the hillock day and night.
- Closing rituals: the jatara ends with traditional rituals, after which the sacred items are taken back in procession.
- Arrangements: the Government of Telangana makes large-scale arrangements for transport, water, sanitation, health care and security, and special buses run from many towns.
Rituals and Puja
- Darshan of Lingamanthula Swamy and Choudamma Talli.
- Offering of bonams and fulfilment of family vows.
- Prayers for the flocks, the harvest and the family.
Foods and Offerings
- Bonams carried to the deities.
- Turmeric, kumkum, coconuts and offerings made according to each family's custom.
Temples Known for this Festival
- Lingamanthula Swamy Temple, Peddagattu – the hillock shrine at the heart of the jatara, where lakhs of devotees gather once in two years.
The Peddagattu Jatara is held once in two years in the month of Magha; its dates are announced before each jatara and will be added here once announced.