Generally, to fulfill the desired wishes, one sacrifices to the god. But in Chhetlandra village of Santabommali mandal of Srikakulam district, bananas are harvested in the premises of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Whether it is to get a job, get married, have children, get rid of health problems, it is good if you win a banana.
Generally, to fulfill the desired wishes, one sacrifices to the god. But in Chhetlandra village of Santabommali mandal of Srikakulam district, bananas are harvested in the premises of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Whether it is to get a job, get married, have children, get rid of health problems, it is good if you win a banana. It is the belief of the devotees that that wish will surely be fulfilled. Some first offer bananas and make a wish.. Others make a wish first and after it is fulfilled, they offer a banana to God. This festival starts on Magha Suddha Bhishma Ekadashi every year and continues for three days.
This tradition has been going on for the last 80 years in the village of Chhetle Tandra. On the day of Bhishma Ekadashi, thousands of banana leaves are tied in the temple and the locals show devotion here. That is why this fair held in the temple premises of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is also known as Arati Gelala festival by locals. When one goes to the temple it is common to take banana teeth to the deity. One, the second..or a dozen, half a dozen...will be offered to God as an offering. But here, the devotees offer a bunch of banana leaves together. The members of the temple utsava committee are conducting various special pujas and cultural programs for three days from Tuesday, the day of Bhishma Ekadashi. The temple is decorated with electric lights. Thousands of devotees from Telugu states as well as Odisha, Chhattisgarh and other states come to visit Swami for these festivals.
After visiting Sri Lakshminarasimhaswamy, devotees wash banana leaves at the Ravi tree in the temple premises. Organizers will set up special canopies at the Ravi tree for tying the banana leaves. As part of this year's crops, up to ten thousand bananas have been harvested. After two or three days of the banana galas tied in the temple premises, the same devotees come and take the tied galas home and eat the banana teeth as prasad of the lord. Some leave bananas at the temple.
There is a big story behind this banana fair.
Around 150 years ago Swamiji Paravastu Ayyavaru reached the village of Chhetlandra. He used to be with everyone and solve everyone's problems. An ashram was established here and worshiped Lord Lakshmi Nrisimha. After some years, those who died there became living graves. After a few years, a Ravi tree grew in the area where he was buried and it gradually grew into a big tree. But before Swamiji's samadhi, they used to eat only fruits. Devotees who came to Swamiji used to bring banana teeth for him. According to Sthala Purana, the same tradition gradually led to the banana winning festival. During the three days of the fair, thousands of banana leaves hang in the temple premises welcoming the devotees. The aroma of bananas is wafting in the village.😊
