‘Paruvetha Utsavam’, an annual socio-religious procession lasting about 40 days from the forests of Ahobilam to 33 surrounding villages, has been taking place uninterrupted for more than six centuries.
This procession is a symbol of equality and religious harmony. The idol of Lord Narasimha is carried in every street and house and the lion-headed god is believed to bless the devotees regardless of their caste and religion.
The Government of India is all set to showcase it to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for recognition as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’.
legacy of communal harmony
The Chenchu tribals of Ahobilam, situated in the heart of the Nallamala forest, have a centuries-old association with the ancient Narasimha Swamy temple belonging to the Sri Ahobila Mutt, which is its hereditary trustee.
According to Hindu folklore, the lion-headed god married Chenchu Lakshmi of the tribal community after killing the demon-king Hiranyakashipu and saving his devotee Prahlad. Not only does the ancient temple contain many places associated with the mythological context behind the ‘Narasimha Avatar’, but the area is also richly associated with anecdotes and stories from the scriptures.
With a sense of kinship and attachment to the God who married a girl from their tribe, the people of Chenchu tribe strongly believe in upholding the ancient tradition that was passed down to them by their ancestors over the last six centuries. Since Chenchu Lakshmi is his sister, the Lord is treated as his brother-in-law who comes to the house for the Sankranti festival.
Member of Parliament (Nandyal) Byreddy Shabari with a 100-year-old bow recently gifted by the Chenchu community. Photo: arrangement
Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, most of the families live a simple life in the Ahobilam forest, which is a part of the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR).
The senior most member of the community is given the right to shoot the first arrow at the palanquin to symbolize the farewell of Narasimha or Nrisimha deity as the god begins his 40-day stay. This year, Mokula Chinna Gurappa, 56, of the Chenchu community of 150 houses in Bandalagadda tribal settlement (Chenchugudem) received the honour.
On January 16, he aimed his arrow at the palanquin carrying the idol of the deity during the ‘Ambu Kottuta’ programme. Two arrows are fired at the palanquin, a symbolic representation that the procession is under their watch for the next 40-plus days. Behind them, several tribal family heads, who arrived at the temple carrying bows, aimed their arrows at the palanquin to show their allegiance.
Allagadda MLA Bhuma Akhilpriya cleaned the temple tank during a special cleaning drive conducted by INTACH in Upper Ahobilam recently. Photo: arrangement
This marked the beginning of this year’s ‘Paruvetha Utsavam’, and the palanquin carrying the idols of Prahlad Varada and Jwala Narasimha left the forest edge village of Ahobilam and went to the surrounding villages including Allagadda town.
mock hunting tradition
‘Kanuma’, the third of the three-day Sankranti festivals, is celebrated in the temples of South India as ‘Paruveta Utsavam’, a mock hunting ritual, symbolizing the ancient tradition of hunting as a pastime on festive occasions. Apparently its purpose is to bridge the gap between formal temple worship and community celebration.
The earliest inscriptional evidence of temple festivals dates back to the Kakatiya period during the reign of Prataparudra Mahadeva. Another inscription about the event, found on the western wall of the main temple at Lower Ahobilam, is dated 1546 AD, marking Vijayanagara rule.
Sankranti is considered a time of both joy and sorrow for the residents of Ahobilam, as Lord Narasimha goes on a migration to the surrounding villages for a 40-day camp and returns only on the 41st day.scheduled tribe Her wedding day.
As folklore goes, the Lord visits 33 nearby villages and invites the public to his marriage, which is marked by a grand ‘Kalyanotsavam’ (divine marriage). It is this migration that is now enacted as ‘Paruveta’ for the nearby villages. This divine marriage is attended by lakhs of devotees who gather at Ahobilam.
The palanquin is carried from one village to another by palanquin bearers of the Bestha Gangaputra (fisherman community). They walk for many kilometers over rocky terrain, muddy soil and even cross water bodies.
Once the idol reaches a village, the responsibility of taking care of the divine delegation falls on the local village head or Sardar. The palanquin is placed on a pedestal called ‘Teluppu’, which is set up in the center of the village. Before the arrival of the procession, the Telupu is cleaned, neatly whitewashed and painted, mostly in brick red and white.
In fact, villagers avoid celebrating Sankranti with other people and celebrate it only on the day the idol enters their village.
emphasis on equality
A glimpse of religious harmony is also visible in the procession. Although it passes through predominantly Muslim areas, no tense situation has arisen so far. In fact, every family in the village participates in the festival, irrespective of their caste, sect or religion. “Narasimha is the deity of our village and we take pleasure in offering garlands to him every year,” says Mohideen, a resident of Bachepalle.
While the archakas (priests) are traditionally Brahmins, members of the Vadla Kammara community form the palanquin, people from the barber community play musical instruments, the washerman community holds the torch throughout the procession and members of the Scheduled Caste community lead the procession. All these are duly respected in every village.
The palanquin proceeds with equal grace from every village and house and all the inhabitants happily welcome it. Similar enthusiasm is expressed by communities representing traders, artisans and agricultural labourers.
When the pilgrim has to travel to the most popular temples like Tirupati and Varanasi to seek blessings, it is the Lord who arrives at the doorstep of the devotees to shower blessings, which is a tradition unique to this ritual.
festival of two kingdoms
According to government records, the event was given royal patronage by the Kakatiya and Vijayanagara kings. After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, it is the only festival to be honored by both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
While Andhra Pradesh recognized ‘Ahobilam Paruveta Utsavam’ as a state festival in March 2024, the Telangana government sends sacred silk clothes to the temple on this occasion every year as a symbol of reverence.
Additionally, the local community has sent one lakh postcards to Rashtrapati Bhavan to invite President Draupadi Murmu to the festival next year. “We have requested him to participate in the event in 2027 and shoot the first arrow at the palanquin,” says Byreddy Shabari, Member of Parliament (Nandyal).
A Chenchu tribal youth with bow and arrow participating in the Paruveta festival at Ahobilam temple during the Kanuma festival. | Photo Credit: AD Rangarajan
The government has developed civic infrastructure around Ahobilam in view of the huge crowd and plans to invite representatives from the Center for the annual Brahmotsavam to be held in mid-February.
Allagadda MLA Bhuma Akhila Priya, who was the tourism minister, has proposed a two-pronged strategy to present Narasimha idols made by local sculptors to delegates at state events. In fact, ‘Allagadda Stone Carving’ has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and this sculpture is famous all over South India.
There is also a doctoral thesis by Ewa Debicka Borek of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków (Poland), titled ‘Hunting without hunting: the sensitivity of all the stories behind paruveta in Ahobilam’, which reflects its global reputation.
UNESCO tag
The Nandyal chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), headed by convenor MV Shivakumar Reddy, has appealed to the Union Culture Ministry to put the festival in the representative list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH) on par with Gujarat’s Garba dance and Kolkata Durga Puja.
Shivakumar Reddy says, “The proposal is with the Sangeet Natak Akademi and we hope to get the UNESCO tag this year.” In fact, all the 33 panchayats involved in the festival have unanimously put forward a proposal demanding the UNESCO tag and have sent it to the government.
The UNESCO tag is expected to bring global prestige to this ancient festival, which is synonymous with unwavering faith and egalitarian outlook.
