When the goddess went to town hurling abuses!

Don’t frown when some loud-mouthed people, with their body painted in different colours, hurl abuses or make lewd gestures at you this week.

Visitors to the temple city are generally taken aback at the way the “weirdly-dressed” persons adorning extravagant jewels make loathsome gestures and use offensive language. Some leave with a curse, while some take it serious and retaliate, only to repent later on knowing that it is part of an age-old tradition. The devotees are considered the incarnation of, or under the “influence” of, the folk goddess Gangamma, whose festival is currently on in the old town.

The goddess is considered the younger sister of Lord Venkateswara and hence the festival is treated with utmost sanctity. Natives of Tirupati follow the practice of smearing colours on the body and bad-mouthing.

According to folklore, Gangamma is on a mission during the festival period to find out the “Palegadu” (local chieftain), who goes into hiding after outraging her modesty. She goes to town in different costumes every day, hurling abuses to enrage and lure him out. It is in this background the locals prefer using filthy language without any qualms, as it is considered a form of paying obeisance to the goddess. While the devout find the foul language a “blessing,” the senior citizens voluntarily ask the “Veshagallu” to use the choicest of abuses on them. Most of the words used are considered unparliamentary today, but are used with utmost devotion to appease the goddess.

Science behind the fair

Modest upbringing and modern education make people conscious of following etiquette and maintaining decorum in public places. “Emotional upheaval is the last resort of such people who consciously avoid confrontations. This leads to piling up of pent-up feelings and may cause psychological disorders in the long run. Such festivals are the time to blow the lid off their emotions,” N.B. Sudhakar Reddy, state general secretary of AP Counselling Psychologists Association (APCPA) told The Hindu.

As the festival falls in peak summer, the application of limestone, charcoal and vermilion paste all over the body helps avoid sunburn and blisters. “Ambili” (buttermilk laced with ragi rice and onion) acts as a coolant.