Prabhala Teertham (Prabhala Utsavam or Prabhala Procession)

'Prabhala Teertham' is one of the important and historical event (Procession or Festival or Teertham) celebrated by people of Konaseema Region especially from Amalapuram and surrounding areas every year on Kanuma festival which is third day of Pongal festival. 

  

Konaseema Region is similar and looks like Kerala with full of Cocunut trees, Paddy fields and lot of Greenery. 'Prabhala Teertham' give more beauty to Konaseema Region during Sankranti (Pongal) festival.

Prabhalu are specially decorated arches with replicas of Lord Shiva with Bamboo sticks and new clothes will be taken out in huge procession from about 150 villages in Konaseema region.  

These are some photographs of back side of a Prabha. Here we observe how a Prabha is prepared. 

"Gopuram" shaped bamboo structures (prabhalu) of various sizes ranging from six to 16 feet height with flagmast atop and deocarated with flowers and colour papers are mounted on bullock carts and displayed at the Teertham (village festival) reflecting the culture of Konaseema Region. 

These are some photographs of Bullock Carts using by people during this Prabhala Teertham. In some of these Bullock Carts photographs i am standing in front of Bullock Carts.

                               These are some of my photographs.I am standing in front of Bullock carts.

This is said to be 400-year-old tradition in this area and most of the Agraharams celebrate this festival in a grand way with participation of thousands of people from every nook and corner of the Konaseema.

‘Gopuram-shaped bamboo structures (Prabhalu) of various sizes-- ranging from six to 16 feet height-- with flagmast atop and decorated with flowers and colour papers are mounted on bullock carts and displayed at the Teertham (village festival) reflecting the culture of the Konaseema Region.

Makeshift stalls selling toys, balloons, fancy items and foodstuff did brisk business.

People of each village participated in the teertham taking their ‘Prabhalu' mounted bullock carts in a procession keeping the portraits of village deities aboard. The villagers consider it as prestigious and strive for making the 'Prabhalu' more attracitve by iluminating them by using generators. 

 
Thousands of people visit 'Jagganna Thota' every year to see 'Ekadasi Rudrulu'. Jagganna Thota is a place near to Mosallapalli where the 11 Avatars of Lord Shiva from 11 villages will meet. These 11 avatars are called Ekadasi Rudrulu. The 11 villages are Gangalakurru, Gangalakurru Agraharam, Irusumanda,Mosallapalli, Mukkamala, Nedunuru, Palagummi, Pedapudi,Pulletikurru, Vakkalanka and Vyagreswaram.

These Ekadasa Rudra Prabhalu of Jagganna Thota with a history of 400 years, are the most popular. A plawue in Bhogeswara temple in Mosallapalli has mention about this. 

This is Ekadasa Rudra prabhalu cloth banner. I am taking this photograph during the last year Prabhala Teertham. I am also taking one personal photograph by standing in front of this Ekadasa Rudra prabhalu banner.

The Ekadasa Rudra (11) Prabhalu are Irusumanda- Ananda Rameswara, Vakkalanka-Kasi Visweswara, Nedunuru-Chennamalleswara, Mukkamala-Raghaveswara, Jaganna Thota (Mosalapalli)-Bhogeswara, Pulletikurru-Abhinava Vyaghreswara, Vyaghreswaram-Vyaghreswara and Gangalakurru Veereswara Swami Prbahalu will arrive at a place where 7 acres of coconut grooves are grown and there will be cultural festival. 

When Jagganna Thota Prabhalu arrives in a procession through midst of upper Kousika river canal, people in thousands will witness the scene from either side of the canal. 

The most interesting and of course electrifying part is Gangalakurru Prabha crossing the Kausika. Usually this will happen between in the afternoon between 12 pm to 2 pm. This place will be heavily crowded between 3 pm to 6 pm in the evening. After 6 pm all the 'Ekadasi Rudrulu' will start leaving and then the Prabhala Theertham procession concluded. It is really gorgeous watching these 'Prabhalu' crossing the flourishing green paddy fields.  

Below is my photograph. I am standing in front of Ekadasa Rudra (11) Prabhalu cloth banner.

Like Jagganna Thota Prabhala Teertham similar Teerthams will conducted on Kanuma festival day every year at Sakurru Garuvu,  Gunnepalli, Krapa Chintalapudi, Mukteswaram and Amalapuram.