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Thousands gather at Bara Shaheed Dargah for Nellore Rottela Panduga festival

Thousands of devotees gathered at Bara Shaheed Dargah in Nellore, India, on June 26, 2026, to begin the annual Rottela Panduga festival honoring regional martyrs.

The celebration starts with the Sandhal Mall ritual of cleaning martyrs' tombs and concludes with a sandal procession and main festival events on Sunday.

This festival matters as it reinforces community identity and preserves local traditions of martyr commemoration in South India.

  • Rottela Panduga is observed only in select districts of Andhra Pradesh, focusing on the legacy of the seven martyrs at Bara Shaheed Dargah.
  • Sandalwood paste used in the festival symbolizes purity and reverence in South Indian Islamic and cultural traditions.
  • The shrine at Bara Shaheed Dargah dates back to the 18th century and has been a pilgrimage site for generations in Nellore.
Thousands gather at Bara Shaheed Dargah for Nellore Rottela Panduga festival | Implica