It is celebrated prior to Maha Shivaratri in Magma masam the second biggest congregation of people after Medaram jatara in Jayashankar Bhupalpally. Atleast 25 lakh people are expected to take part in this event.
The presiding deities, Sri Lingamanthula Swamy, believed an in carnation of Lord Shiva, and his sister – Choudamma, are offered various pujas during the five-day fete.
Though primarily the Yadava community takes part in huge numbers, people from all castes and religions from across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu come to the place located just 5-km. from Suryapet.
According to history, this religious congregation has been celebrated since 16th century. Even it is still been celebrated with the government funds.
In the morning, the religious Deverapetta will be brought to temple premises in a procession from Kesaram village following the traditions.
The religious box ‘Deverapette’ which has the idols of Lord Lingamanthula Swamy- goddess Chowdamma and many other idols, holds the key to the celebration of Durajpalli Jatara. The religious box has an interesting story behind it.
Speaking to The Hindu , Menthaboina Chowadaiah Yadav, elder of the local Yadav community, said that a family in Cheekataipalem village of Thorrur mandal in Warangal district traditionally sends this box to Lingamanthula Swamy and Chowdamma temple, Durajpalli 10 days ahead of the commencement of the bi-annual Peddagattu jatara. This tradition is being followed for centuries, he adds.
Days ahead of the Peddagattu jathara, a ritual called ‘Disti Puja’ is performed at the temple. Then the ‘Deverapette’ will be shifted from Chowadiah Yadav’s home in Kesaram village. In the wee hours of the first day of jathara on Monday, the Deverapette would be brought to the temple in a procession. The Deverapette contains the idols of Pothuraju, Ganga, Yelamanchamma, Akumanchamma, Pothu Lingalu and many other gods, who are worshipped in rural parts of the Telangana. Interestingly, the family of Thanda Pullaiah, who are considered as priests in Yadav community, from Cheekatipalem village located 75 km apart from Durajpalli holds this box.
Since the families Menthaboina-Munna, both belong to Yadava community, and Golla Ganna Reddy, whose families were believed to have spotted the deities on Durajpalli hillock, centuries ago, get the opportunity to keep the box at their house in rotation.
These families which have Menthaboina as surname got the opportunity to keep ‘Deverapette’ at their house this year.
The box was kept at Chowdaiah Yadav’s home, who is the head of this community. On conclusion of five-day celebration of the fete, the ‘Deverapette’ will be kept at Menthaboina family’s home for 18 days, then it will be presented to other Lingamanthula Swamy temples in Nalgonda and Warangal districts.
Sources
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/all-set-for-fiveday-gollagattu-jatara/article6870580.ece
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peddagattu_jathara
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/divine-box-holds-key-to-peddagattu-jatara/article6873161.ece
http://nalgonda.info/te/peddagutta-fair-from-today-suryapet-nalgonda/peddagattu-jathara-in-nalgonda1/