In Suryapet, India, the air was filled with enthusiastic chants of “Om Linga, Om Linga” as devoted Hindu pilgrims made their way up over 100 steps to a cherished hilltop shrine in southern India. Families took part in this spiritual journey, with one group leading a goat adorned with a marigold garland, while another man, balancing two young children, held a live chicken in his free hand. The animals symbolized offerings to Lingamanthula Swamy, a form of Lord Shiva, and his sister Choudamma, as believers sought blessings of prosperity and protection.
This pilgrimage, known as the Peddagattu Jatara, is a significant event that occurs every two years. The recent five-day celebration attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the temple in Telangana. Many women dressed in vibrant attire and adorned their hair with fresh flowers, marking their commitment to the rituals. Turmeric, a staple in Indian cuisine and an important element in Hindu practices, was prepared into a paste and applied to the temple surfaces and the foreheads of goats being sacrificed.
The origins of this pilgrimage trace back to the 16th century, before the temple was established on the massive rock that gives Peddagattu, meaning “large rock” in Telugu, its name. At the main shrine, clay pitchers filled with bonam—rice mixed with jaggery—served as offerings. Devotees walked in a clockwise direction, enjoying the gentle sunlight filtering through bamboo canopies that offered relief from the heat. Many engaged in rhythmic drumming, dancing, and reenacting scenes from beloved Hindu epics, while others walked reverently with hands folded in prayer.
The atmosphere grew intense when a woman, marked with holy symbols, entered a trance; her fervent expressions drew the attention of fellow worshippers, who surrounded her in hopes of receiving blessings. Pilgrims who traveled from afar prepared their sacrifices on open fires just outside their tents, sharing meals with family and friends, fostering a spirit of community and celebration among those present.
