January 17th, 2014: ‘Prabhala Utsavam’, an annual festival in Konaseema, shows Gangalakurru village ‘prabha’ which has been popular for the last 125 years.

Non-Resident Indians settled in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other countries thronged ‘Prabhalu’ festival which is said to be a 400-year-old tradition in several ‘agraharams’ in Konaseema. The NRIs along with some foreigners added not only value, but also a new dimension to the festival by contributing large sums for conducting the festival this year.

“As a result of consecutive cyclones from last July, we thought that it is difficult to conduct the festival in a big way. But, NRIs of Gangalakurru village, and from other villages, have extended their support this time,” said Satyanaryana of the village.

‘Prabhalu’ processions add to the beauty of Konaseema during Sankranti festival. This is in addition to cockfights and special decorations to temples.

Specially decorated arches with replicas of Lord Siva with bamboo sticks and new clothes will be taken out in huge procession from about 150 villages in Konaseema area. “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 made brisk business. People of each village participated in the teertham taking their ‘prabhalu’-mounted bullock carts in a procession with the portraits of village deities aboard.

Generally, the celebrations are organised on ‘Kanuma’, the day after Sankranti

The highest ‘prabha’, 45-ft high, was taken in a procession in Vakalagaruvu in Ambajipeta mandal. The second highest is Tondavaram Todeswaraswami Prabha with a height of 42 feet. When Jagannathota ‘Prabhalu’ arrives in a procession from upper Kousika river canal, people in the thousands will witness the scene from either side of the canal.

The ‘Prabhalu’ festival in Irusumanda in Razole mandal witnessed slogans of Samikyandhra. Youth from different parts of the mandal shouted slogans in support of united Andhra Pradesh.

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

‘Ekadasa Rudra Prabhalu’ of Mosalapalli of Jaganna Thota, with a history of 400 years, are the most popular. A plaque in Bhogeswara temple in Mosalapalli has a mention about this.