2 lakh throng Nellore Dargah on Rottela Panduga

Around 2 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the Nellore tank (Swarnala Cheruvu), adjacent to the Bara Shaheed Dargah, and exchanged ‘Rottelu’ standing in the ankle-deep of water on the first day of annual Rottelu Panduga, festival of bread, here on Sunday.

Organisers said devotees, irrespective of their religions, thronged the Dargah, seeking the blessings of the 12 Muslim warriors, who sacrificed their lives in the ‘Holy War’ of 1751.

The devotee rush was more as the first day of the fete coincided with the 10 day of Muharram, the day on which Imam Hussain, the grand son of Prophet Mohammed, had sacrificed his life for the sake of Islam, they said.

Devotees believe that they will be blessed by the 12 martyrs if they visit the Dargah during the annual fete and their wishes will be fulfilled. 

“ I came here to accept the ‘Pelli Rotte’ for my daughter as my son got married last year after I visited the Dargah during the fete in 2010, said 55-year-old Vijayamma of Padugupadu village in Kovur mandal.

The ‘boondi’ (a kind of sweet offered to the martyrs) vendors were seen very optimistic. “Usually, the vendors make a business of `20 lakh during the fete. If everything goes well, I will sell sweets worth `75,000 this time,” said SK Babu, a sweet vendor, adding that he has vowed to leave a ‘Business Rotte’ in the holy tank.

Meanwhile, the organiser committee is pinning hopes for a good hundi collection this year.  SD Shakil Ahmad, a member of the organising committee, said they are expecting a hundi collection of `20 lakh as the devotee rush is more this time as compared to the previous years.