In this Kadapa temple, men perform puja, no entry for women

A rare and intriguing tradition unfolds every year in Thippayapalle, a village in Pullampet mandal of Kadapa district.

- S NAGARAJA RAO @Kadapa

On the Sunday before Sankranti, the village celebrates a grand festival dedicated exclusively to men. This unique event revolves around the Sanjeevaraya Swamy temple, where men take centrestage in offering prayers and preparing a traditional dish, pongal, for the presiding deity.

Men, irrespective of where they live, return to their native village for the occasion. They come together to cook pongal and offer it as Naivedyam to Lord Sanjeevaraya as per the tradition that has been passed down for generations. Women, however, are strictly prohibited from entering the temple or consuming Prasadam.