Pastoral groups, marginalised sections, Dalits, and tribal communities have, for generations, shared their joys and hardships with this deity

To understand the ethos of Telangana, one must look beyond its monuments and political institutions to the gods its people worship. These are not deities confined to sanctums or royal courts. They dwell amid farmlands, in the sweat of labouring hands, and in the collective faith of village life. Among such deities, Ainavolu Mallanna holds a prominent place.

Held annually from Sankranti to Ugadi at Ainavolu village in Wardhannapet mandal of Warangal district, the Mallanna Jatara is far more than a religious congregation. It reflects rural Telangana’s social fabric, belief systems, and cultural continuity. Believed to have been worshipped since the Kakatiya period, Mallanna is regarded as a form of Shiva self-manifested and rooted in the people’s imagination rather than royal patronage. Pastoral groups, marginalised sections, Dalits, and tribal communities have, for generations, shared their joys and hardships with this deity.

The Jatara is inclusive, transcending caste, religion, and regional boundaries. Devotees arrive from across Telangana and neighboring states, turning Ainavolu into a confluence of faiths and geographies. During the festival, the village transforms into a vast gathering with bullock carts, tractors, buses, and thousands of pilgrims on foot. Devotees fulfil vows through offerings, animal sacrifices, and symbolic rituals, reflecting rural belief systems tied to nature and uncertainty.

Cultural vibrancy is central to the festival, with rhythmic dappu beats, folk songs, and Potharaju performances embodying the collective emotions of the people. Historically, the Jatara faced infrastructural challenges, but under the new Telangana government, steps have been taken to improve roads, water, sanitation, medical support, and crowd management while preserving the festival’s spiritual essence.

Ultimately, the Ainavolu Mallanna Jatara is not just a religious festival. It is a mirror to Telangana’s collective soul, where faith, labour, culture, and social unity intersect, rooted firmly in the hearts of the people.

Amaravaji nagaraju, PRO to TPCC President