Telugu devotees at Kumbh: A journey of faith, rituals & giving back

Done: arunHyderabad: A large number of devotees from Telangana have gathered in Prayag Raj for the ongoing Kumbh Mela, embarking on a spiritual journey that is not only about receiving blessings but also about giving back to the community. Many have come in large groups, led by seers they follow, and are playing an active role in organising rituals and hosting large-scale religious events for fellow devotees.Yaddanapudi Subramanyam, a finance professional, has taken it upon himself to organise 46 days of food donations during the mela. In addition, he is overseeing special festivities that began on Mouni Amavasya and will span five days. "We are conducting a special Rudra Panchanika Yagam, a very significant ritual. Seers from across the Telugu states, as well as renowned spiritual leaders from Uttar Pradesh, are participating. I visit Prayag Raj regularly, but this time we have a much larger group," he said. The rituals and food donations are funded by the group, with an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh. Subramanyam said: "These activities are not just for us; they are for all the devotees who wish to participate and gain spiritual merit."The chief priest of the Sri Subramanyeswara Swamy Devalayam (Skandagiri) temple, Kannan, along with several priests from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, has joined the team for this spiritual venture.VK Rani Rao, a teacher from Warangal, shared her experience, saying, "We initially planned to stay for two days, but the significance of Mouni Amavasya led us to extend our stay. Our group of more than 50 members is deeply committed to this sacred journey." For Chandrasekhar Sharma, a 50-year-old textile shop owner from Hyderabad, the Kumbh Mela has been a life-changing experience. "Meeting Naga Sadhus and witnessing the spiritual grandeur of the event is unlike anything I've read about," he said, travelling with a group of 10 self-employed professionals.