Page 675 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

ANDHR A PR ADESH AND TELANGANA  673

supported by angled struts,
many of which are fashioned Festivals of
as three-dimensional maidens Andhra Pradesh
with graceful bodies in Ugadi (Mar). Homes are
dancing poses. Other similar spring-cleaned and special
but smaller relief figures, as food is prepared to celebrate
well as scenes from the epics, the Telugu New Year.
are seen in the central ceiling Muharram (Apr), Hyderabad.
panel within the mandapa. Shia Muslims commemorate
The exterior of the sanctuary, the martyrdom of the Prophet’s
in contrast, is devoid of any grandson, Hussain, with
carvings. The restrained 40 days of mourning. On the
ornamentation and simple final day, colourful tazias
modelling are typical of the (replicas of his tomb) are
elegance of Kakatiya art. carried in procession
The 13th-century Ramappa Temple A stone pavilion sheltering a through the Old City.
at Palampet Nandi, which is smaller in size
than the one at Hanamkonda,
5 Palampet but as exquisitely carved,
stands in front of the temple.
Warangal district. 213 km (132 miles)
NE of Hyderabad. @ South of the Ramappa
Temple is Ramappa Cheruvu,
This village is dominated by a vast artificial lake created by
the Ramappa Temple, the Recherla Rudra, and surrounded
best- preserved example by picturesque hills.
of Kakatiya architecture.
Dedicated to Shiva, it was Environs
built in 1213 by Recherla More Kakatiya temples
Rudra, a general of the can be seen at Gana
ruler Ganapatideva Puram, a little village 13 Batkamma Festival, Warangal
(r.1199– 1262). Like the km (8 miles) northwest
temple at Hanamkonda, of Palampet. The largest Mrigasira (Jun/Jul),
it too has a spacious consists of a pair of Shiva Hyderabad. On this day a
mandapa with beau- shrines, both with unique cure for asthma is
tifully sculpted black mandapas and balcony administered to patients
basalt columns. This seats. The main shrine from all over India, who
mandapa, which is has delightful female swallow live a small fresh-
cruciform in plan, also dvarapalas (door keepers), water fish called maral.
has porches with balcony dancing maidens and Many sufferers claim
seats on three sides. The finely carved brackets. miraculous cures.
eaves sheltering the Carving at Other minor shrines dot Batkamma (Sep/Oct),
peripheral columns are Gana Puram the walled compound. Warangal. This festival
is held in honour of the
goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
Traditional Andhra Dhurries Celebrations begin just
Although lustrous silk and wool carpets from Persia and Turkey before Dussehra (see p39),
embellished the palaces of the Nizams of Hyderabad, Andhra and continue for nine days.
Pradesh has long had a local tradition of carpet weaving in Flowers are arranged over
Warangal and Eluru. Commonly known as dhurries, the rugs a turmeric representation
are made in both cotton and wool, in a variety of designs and of the goddess and carried
colours. The cotton dhurries from Warangal are usually woven on a bamboo tray to a lake
into geometric patterns, while the woollen carpets of Eluru (274 or river, where the women
km/170 miles southeast of Warangal) sport floral designs that hint dance in a circle around
at a Western influence. The the floral offering before
more expensive shatranjis immersing it in the water.
(with a chessboard-like Festival of Andhra
pattern) are made with Pradesh (Nov), Hyderabad.
heavy cotton thread and This ten-day cultural festival
produced on horizontal marks the anniversary of
looms. The kalamkari Andhra Pradesh’s statehood.
craftsmen of Sri Kalahasti Celebrations include perfor-
(see p684) make rugs in mances from the state’s best
traditional designs on a jute musicians and dancers.
A dhurrie with geometric patterns base, using vegetable dyes.

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