Temple History
The Legend of Katamaraju – A Tale of Valor, Sacrifice, and Honor
Katamaraju, the valiant king of Kanigiri, fought a fierce battle against Manuma Sidhi of Nellore over grazing lands and water rights. Though he fell in battle, he remained undefeated in spirit, his legacy living on as a symbol of courage and honor
Read MoreThe 1975 Paleti Ganga Festival Tragedy: A Riot, a Fire, and a Forgotten Massacre
In the summer of 1975, during the grand Paleti Ganga Thirunallu festival in Vengalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, a devastating riot broke out following a clash between villagers and the police. What started as a disagreement over a ceremonial Prabha movement quickly escalated into chaos, violence, and bloodshed. The police fired a warning shot, which triggered panic and fury among the crowd. In the resulting madness, officers fled into the Paleti Ganga Bhavani temple for safety—only for the enraged mob to lock the temple doors and set it on fire. Over 20 people, including several police officers and a young temple priest, lost their lives to smoke and flames. This story is a firsthand account from a temple priest who narrowly escaped death that night. His chilling narrative captures a forgotten tragedy that turned a sacred celebration into a scene of horror
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