Daily Archives: July 2, 2015

NRI Kids Donate Rs 30,000 for Mission Kakatiya

Hyderabad :

Inspired by the state government’s effort to revive lakes in the state under Mission Kakatiya, a group of NRI children donated Rs 30,000 to irrigation minister T Harish Rao on Wednesday.

The children said the amount was raised by working during weekends by cleaning up gardens and cars in their locality.

Born in US and studying in prestigious schools in the city like Oakridge, Chirec, Delhi Public schools, the students run a social service organisation called Hill County Interactive Club.

Harish Rao congratulated them for their gesture.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / June 25th, 2015

Gadwal weavers spin a divine gift for Tirumala

Mahbubnagar :

A family of weavers in Gadwal in Telangana receives a rare honour in the run up to the Brahmotsavams at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala every year. A month and a half before the festival, they get the honour of weaving the `Sesha Vastrams’ or the ‘Eruvada Jodi Panchalu’ made of cotton and silk for the Lord. And it is only after it is whispered into the ears of the deity by the head priest at Tirumala that the Sesha Vastrams have been received do the Brahmotsavams begin.

While the Brahmotsavams are held either in September or October every year coinciding with the Navaratri festival, family members of Mahankali Karunakar begin to look forward to an official communication from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams that usually arrives in August seeking commencement of the weaving of the Sesha Vastrams.

“We procure the cotton fibre from Chirala and the silk is chosen from local sources. Three colours used for the fabric, yellow, maroon and red and prepared from natural products,” Chaka Satyam, one of the six weavers who devote themselves to making the Sesha Vastrams for 41 days at a stretch.

The weavers follow a strict personal regimen and protocol during this period. The weavers, led by Karunakar, seclude themselves in a section of a house where a special handloom is located. “For 41 days, we stay away from the rest of our families and have no interaction with them. We cook our own food during this period. The special loom is used only for weaving of the Sesha Vastrams and once the work is completed, it is locked and reopened only the next year,” Karunakar told TOI.

The only sounds that one hears outside the room for six hours a day for 41 days are that of the loom and the `Govinda Namalu’ chanted by the weavers for the entire duration.

Once the clothes are ready, a special puja is performed and then the Sesha Vastrams are carried to Tirumala and handed over to the temple’s main priest. “It is an honour for us and a divine opportunity to be allowed till the final threshold of the temple a day before the Brahmotsavams begin,” Karunakar said.

The weavers are also bestowed the rare privilege of being allowed to perform aarathi to the deity after handing over the clothes. “It is an experience that I cannot describe in words. The chief priest, after collecting the clothes, whispers into the ears of the deity `we have received Gadwala Sesha Vastram (Jodi Panchalu).’ The Brahmotsavams begin only after this ritual,” Karunakar said.

Three other weavers, Shanmuka Rao, K Murali and Ramesh, who take part in the manufacture of the Sesha Vastrams said that though many decorations adorn the deity, the constant feature is the presence of the Sesha Vastrams for the entire year till the next set of the clothes is presented to the temple.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Pradeep Mandhumala, TNN / June 30th, 2015