Rathothsavam held in Hindupur

Hindupur (Anantapur): Subramanyeshwara Swamy Rathothsavam, the traditional festival of Tamilian population is celebrated every year with gaiety and fervour by the Tamil migrants who made Hindupur their home some five decades ago. The traditions of their ancestors are being followed by the people of Tamil origin with devotion and dedication.

The Rathothsavam being celebrated by the Tamils are the cynosure of all eyes on Sunday when hundreds of devotees indulged in acts of dare devilry by performing chivalrous spine chilling acrobatics, much to the joy and awe of spectators.
Scenes of devotees hanging in thin air on to Ratham in diverse postures made people shiver at the very sight of their acts of devotion.

The participation in such acts of dare devilry lies in the belief that their desires for health and wealth would be fullfilled by the swamy. The Radhothsav reenacted by the local Tamils is said to be a replica of the Thanga Utsav in Tamil Nadu being observed traditionally there every year. The devotees unable to physically participate in their Tamil land due to several constraints had been repeating the utsav in a small measure in the town of Hindupur.

This Radhothsav is said to be a thanks giving by devotees for fulfilled desires and health and prosperity. The act of injuring themselves through acts of piercing themselves with knives and iron spikes and rods is an act of devotion towards their swamy. The festival celebration by Tamils is always looked forward to by the citizens of Hindupur. The Tamil minority population had over the years integrated with the local people while safeguarding their own religious customs and traditions, which make them stand apart in their devotion and culture.

By Ravi P Benjamin