SRIKAKULAM: The otherwise sleepy hamlet of Kurmanadhrapuram, with all residents Hindus, in Srikakulam district, is a beehive of activity on the eve of Vijaya Dasami. So what is the catch? The village in Narasannapeta mandal, 25 km away from the district headquarters, is gearing up to celebrate the traditional Peerla Utsavam, a Muslim festival.
“It’s not that we do not celebrate Dasara. But Peerla Utsavam gets more priority. Our forebearers have been celebrating it for almost a century,” says Appayya, an octogenarian from the village.
Folklore has it that 17 Muslims families from the village, a century ago, started the celebrations for 12 days every year, beginning from the third day after amavasya. Their Hindu neighbours took active part in it.
Gradually, the Muslims migrated to other parts in the region. But, the Hindus still carry the legacy. “There is no Muslim family in the village now. But, we celebrate the festival with pomp and gaiety. It’s a tradition for us than a festival. We strongly believe that Allah will ward off our problems,” he said.
Though Dasara is coinciding with the Muharram festivity this year, the villagers are more engrossed in the arrangements for Peerla Utsavams. Residents contribute for the festival at a one-room dargah. A Muslim priest from the nearby village is summoned to perform the rituals.
Holy sticks wrapped in decorative fabrics and peacock feathers are worshipped. And the rituals are a perfect amalgamation of Hindu and Islamic traditions. Huge processions are taken out on the seventh day of the festival and the devouts carrying pots filled with holy turmeric water walk on fire. Residents believe that Allah’s blessings enable them to walk on the fire because of which the devouts receive no burns. The same ritual repeats on the 10th day again. “On the 12th day, we take the deity for a holy bath to a tank and the god retires to the holy box till the next year, marking the conclusion of the fete,” says Nalla Bariki Raja Rao, representative of Kurmanadhrapuram panchayat, adding that non-vegetarian food and liquor are a no-no during the celebrations.
The present dargah, built 40 years ago, is in a dilapidated condition and the villagers are trying to renovate it with the donations from the residents. “We have brought back the Muslim priest who had shifted to the nearby town a few years ago so that the daily rituals at the dargah are performed,” says Chittibabu, a member the village dargah committee.
During the celebrations, all the relatives of the villagers are invited and served delicious food. “Around, 20,000 people take part in the festival every year,” adds Chittibabu.