Huge crowds throng Bara Shaheed Dargah to celebrate ‘Rottela Panduga’ in Nellore

MA&UD Minister Ponguru Narayana, Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu and AP Waqf Board Chairman Abdul Aziz offered prayers on the first day of Rottela Panduga at Bara Shaheed Dargah in Nellore on Friday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Rottela Panduga, one of the state’s festivals, got off to a grand start at Bara Shaheed Dargah in SPSR Nellore district on Friday (June 26, 2026). Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister Ponguru Narayana, Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu, State Wakf Board Chairman AP Abdul Aziz, District Collector Himanshu Shukla and Superintendent of Police Dr. Ajith Vejendla jointly inspected the arrangements on the first day of the five-day annual festival.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Narayana said, “The number of devotees visiting Rottel Panduga at the 412-year-old Bara Shaheed Dargah is increasing every year. Only four million devotees visited in 2014 when the facilities were inadequate. Since then, major constructions and infrastructure upgrades have been completed during the Telugu Desam Party (TDP Desam Party) regime.”

He said that around 15 thousand devotees are expected to visit this year. “The state government is transforming the Dargah premises into a major tourist attraction. Realizing the immense faith with which devotees come from all over the country and abroad, we are giving special emphasis to ensure the cleanliness of Swarnala Cheruvu,” the minister said.

Devotees exchange roti on the banks of Swarnala Cheruva on the first day of Rottela Panduga festival at Bara Shaheed Dargah in Nellore on Friday. | Photo credit: HANDOUT

Special arrangements include the deployment of 6,315 sanitary personnel, 1,870 police officers, 45 experienced swimmers and eight excursion boats. “Free medical camps have been set up for the convenience of the devotees,” he said, adding that these arrangements will continue for the next five days even after the five-day festival ends as devotees are still coming here.

MP Srinivasulu said, “I have been participating in the Rotela Panduga festival for the last 50 years. On the instructions of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in 2014, Minister Narayana initiated the development of the Dargah. It is heartening to see how it has become a tourist destination. I urge Swarnala Cherubad of Taangderan to be transformed into Hyunda of B’underan.”

Mr. Abdul Aziz said, “The festival of Rotis is celebrated as a symbol of religious harmony, transcending caste and religious barriers. The celebration was different before and after 2014, with the event becoming grander in the period after 2014. Initiatives for the development of the Dargah were started during Mr. Narayana’s previous tenure as mayor and during my tenure.”

“In collaboration with the minister, we have constructed ghats, installed toilets and showers and constructed cement roads and shelters. Comprehensive measures have been taken to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience and surveillance has been strengthened with CCTV cameras and drones,” he added.

Published – 26 Jun 2026 20:11 IST