Mancherial: The Goddess Padmalpuri Kako temple is a famous Adivasi shrine in Telangana. It is known for its connection to the Dandari festival and is located on the banks of the Godavari River at Gudirevu in Dandepalli mandal.
Every year, after the Dasara festival, the “Dandari Utsav” begins and continues until Diwali Amavasya. Thousands of devotees from the united Adilabad district, along with families from Maharashtra, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh, visit the temple. During the festival, women perform traditional Gussadi dances, which are an important part of the celebration.
Goddess Padmalpuri Kako is worshiped by tribals who believe that offering prayers to her will bring them wealth, happiness, and good crops. Special offerings such as ‘payasam’, ‘minumulu’, ‘babbera gare’, and pounded rice are made to the goddess. In addition, goat and chicken are sacrificed, cooked, and meals are served near the temple. New couples also perform a special ‘bheti’ ceremony, where they introduce new brides to the deity.
Devotees who come to the temple for the festival travel to the Godavari River on foot. They take a holy bath in the river and perform puja there before worshiping the goddess with the river water. The previous government allocated Rs. 36 lakh for the development of the shrine.
The Gussadi dances are a major attraction at the temple. The dancers wear special costumes, including caps made of peacock feathers, deer skin on their shoulders, and ‘gajjelu’ around their waists and legs. They also carry kolas (sticks) and dance to the beat of drums. Before performing, it is customary for the dancers to seek the blessings of the Gussadis.
