The ‘Rottela Panduga’, an annual roti-sharing and wish-making festival, will be held on the sprawling banks of the Swarnala Cheruvu tank here from October 1 to 5.
Over 15 lakh pilgrims and devotees from all over the country are expected to take part in the landmark festival this year and the officials are keeping this in mind while making the necessary arrangements for providing basic amenities at the venue.
The roti festival is a historic event as it is being conducted here in the surroundings of ‘Bara Shahid Dargah’ for over 400 years as a mark of respect for the 12 Islamic warrior martyrs who sacrificed their lives here for the cause of their faith.
Over the decades, the Rottela Panduga has come to stand as a symbol of religious harmony considering the fact that thousands of devotees belonging to other faiths have also been participating and making their wishes at the banks of Swarnala Cheruvu.
It got a multi-religious character even as lots of pilgrims arrive here every year from the cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mysore and Vijayawada.
The State government is conducting this as a State festival and the waterfront areas of Rottela Panduga venue are being repaired and deepened for the purpose of giving a better experience to the pilgrims as they share rotis by standing in the knee-deep waters there during the festival days.
The widening of the water front ghats, development of approach roads and other works were taken up at a cost of ₹30 crore.
Minister for Municipal Administration P. Narayana, District Collector R. Mutyala Raju, Municipal Commissioner S. Dilli Rao and other officials are closely monitoring the developmental works to make sure they are completed by the start of the festival.
Mr. Narayana said that the number of pilgrims would exceed 15 lakh this year and the number of ghats were being increased.
SP P.H.D. Ramakrishna had taken measures for regulating the massive traffic flow during the festival days.