Sacred ritual: Tribals axe bovines for village good

Peddavoora: People of Rammanagudem Thanda of Peddavoora mandal have been practicing a strange ritual for many years. Wishing the welfare of villagers, they have been sacrificing bovines to Goddess Kankali Bhavani (Ankallamma) ever year in the early hours of the day that falls after Sri Rama Navami.

As part of their custom, the heads of the sacrificed bovines are buried in front of temple, while the meat from the bodies is consumed by locals of the neighboring villages. Ever year, the skulls of the animals sacrificed are taken out and the new ones are placed in the same pit in front of the temple. According to locals, as many as 102 bovines were sacrificed last year.

The rich history

According to village elders, a tribal by name Lalsad of the Thanda used to visit the Kankali Bhavani temple in Nanded in Maharashtra. It became taxing for him go there frequently due to lack of transport facilities in those days. To overcome this, in 1944, he established the deity of Kankali Bhavani and constructed a temple in the Thanda.

Since then, tribals in and around the Thanda have been worshipping the Goddess and started sacrificing animals. In the course of time, the temple got wide publicity and people from neighbouring Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Guntur and Prakasham districts too started pouring in to offer prayers.

After the demise of Lalsad, his progeny took over as priests of the temple. Devotees who come to this temple will make vow of sacrificing bovines on accomplishment of their desires.

Apart from tribals, people of other communities also follow the same ritual. As part the custom, the sacrifice of animals starts in the wee hours of Jatara day and ends before the dawn. Amid dances and drum beats, tribals axe the animals in one stroke.

While heads are buried, the meat from the remaining body is consumed. The next year, the skulls of the animals are taken out during the Jatara. After sunrise, devotees sacrifice goats and sheep, prepare the food and eat under the trees located nearby the temple.

Shankar, a youngster from the village, informed that sacrificing bovines to pay the vows became a ritual since the construction of Kankali Bhavani temple.

Nagarjunasagar CI Adireddy informed that as there was no official ban on sacrificing animals before the temples, they do not o interfere in the ritual on the Jatara day. However, they deploy cops at the temple to avoid any untoward incidents.