Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Palle Doddi Bonalu Tradition Stays Local Amid Temple Dispute
Palle Doddi and Gaddaralla villages share an old religious tradition.
Usually, women from Palle Doddi carry Bonalu offerings to Gaddaralla.
The offerings are made for Goddess Maremmavva.
This year, the villages disagreed about choosing the Gaddaralla temple committee chairman.
Palle Doddi villagers felt they were not given a fair role in the decision.
They therefore held the Bonalu ceremony in their own village.
Police asked everyone to keep the peace.
Devotees hope the disagreement is solved so the shared tradition can continue.
Palle Doddi villagers held their traditional Bonalu rituals inside the village on Tuesday.
The annual offering is usually carried to Gaddaralla for Goddess Maremmavva.
Villagers objected to being denied representation in selecting the Gaddaralla temple committee chairman.
Police urged both villages to maintain peace after elders sought permission for a local event.
The temple executive officer said management was not involved and devotees hoped to restore the tradition.
- Who
- Residents of Palle Doddi and Gaddaralla, along with Gaddaralla temple officials and local police.
- What
- Palle Doddi held its Bonalu rituals locally instead of carrying the offerings to Gaddaralla.
- When
- Tuesday, traditionally the third Tuesday of the holy Sravana month.
- Where
- Palle Doddi village in Devanakonda mandal, Kurnool; the offerings are traditionally made at Gaddaralla.
- Why
- Palle Doddi villagers objected to being denied representation in selecting the Gaddaralla temple committee chairman.
Palle Doddi Villagers
Gaddaralla Temple Management
Committee representation
Palle Doddi Villagers
Villagers objected to being denied representation in selecting the Gaddaralla temple committee chairman and chose to boycott the traditional march.
Gaddaralla Temple Management
Temple EO Veeraiah said the temple management was not involved, describing the matter as an internal issue between the two villages.
Location of rituals
Palle Doddi Villagers
Palle Doddi residents held the Bonalu rituals within their own village this year.
Gaddaralla Temple Management
The established tradition has been for Palle Doddi’s offerings to be carried to Gaddaralla for worship.
- Deity
- Goddess Maremmavva
- Traditional route
- Women from Palle Doddi usually carry Bonalu offerings to Gaddaralla.
- Local belief
- Gaddaralla is regarded as the deity’s parental village, while Palle Doddi is considered her sister’s village.
- Dispute
- Palle Doddi villagers objected to a lack of representation in choosing the temple committee chairman.
- Police response
- Village elders met Devanakonda CI Venugopal, and police urged residents to maintain peace.
- Temple response
- Gaddaralla temple EO Veeraiah said temple management was uninvolved in the dispute.
- Religious event
- Gaddaralla’s triennial jatara attracts thousands, according to the report.