Roti fest off to a grand start

Nellore: The famous five-day long Roti Festival (Rottela Panduga) started off on the sprawling premises of Bara Shaheed Dargah on the banks of Swarnala Cheruvu on Friday. Devotees, not only from the Telugu States, but also across the country are visiting the Dargah on the first day of the festival for offering prayers.

They are exchanging rotis expecting their wishes are certainly fulfilled. District administration is expecting around 10-15 lakh devotees would visit Dargah for exchange of rotis.

Civic body, Police and Revenue departments have made elaborate arrangements for convenience of the devotees. They had allocated parking places for the devotee vehicles at DK Women’s College, TB Hospital, Sarvodaya College, Kasturba Gardens, Magunta Layout, Salvation Army Centre, CAM School, ACSR Stadium and other places. Meanwhile, police have diverted vehicular traffic in many areas.

Officials had divided Bara Shaheed Dargah premises into seven zones for providing drinking water to devotees, toilets, medical camps, shops, main Dargah, parking places and Swarnala Cheruvu for exchange of rotis. 

The festival commenced on Friday with basic ritual ‘Shahdatt’. The main part of the festival ‘Gandhamahotsavam’ would be held on September 22 and ‘Tahaleel Fatheah’ on September 24. Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy visited the Dargah on Friday and exchanged roti wishing Chandrababu Naidu should come to power again in the state. He reviewed the arrangements made to devotees with officials.

Another Minister P Narayana has been personally monitoring the arrangements at the Dargah for smooth conduct of the festival. Narayana along with her daughter P Sindhu visited the Dargah and launched ‘Simhapuri boat’ at Swarnala Cheruvu where rotis are exchanged in knee-deep water.

Mayor Aziz said they were coordinating with all government departments. Measures have been taken to maintain hygienic conditions in the premises keeping in view of possible rainfall. He said temporary toilets were arranged at the Dargah premises and the sanitation workers are cleaning the premises of Dargah tank from time to time.