Farm Tourism

The classes for the semester was over before the summer got fiercely hot. Last week even the bed in the hostel room was warm like a loaf of bread. Inspite of the summer worries The knowledge sharing experience at tourism and other colleges is something that keeps me motivated. While at Nellore, I tried organizing a student itinerary for American university students who come to India to study the public health system in developing countries. The talks are on in that way, fortunately the Indian charm continues to be in her villages and our Nellore and her villages are very suitable for student tourism in the field of public health, village economy, culture etc..

Golagamudi

Check out the life at the small village at this site. 

Last week, we came to know from our sources in Kerala home stays association that a tourism director from AP tourism has visited the home stays of Kerala as part of their Homes Stays study tour. I was very happy to hear that as we did farm tourism prospects in AP as a semester project for the final year under graduate students. Some of our students have their own farms, some big some small but each with very interesting activities that are unique to the area. I am sure if the students will take it forward they will definitely get the state support. 

Seeing is believing, they say, the students have to visit well run home stays in the farms to understand its scope and reach. Once they understand and become aware I am sure they will involve themselves more enthusiastically to bring a different life and activities to their farms.

The 18 hour bus ride back to Kochi and Kerala is always a delight for me even though the trains could be easier, cheaper and would reach in 12 hours.

Though there was a bit of problem with the long distance bus service from Kerala, the quality of the service, the facilities at the stopovers during the journey has improved tremendously. A fact that make every Indian proud. Slow but steady we are moving forward.

Ugadi - The New Year

The New Year day for the Telugu and Kannada communities falls on the first new moon after the spring Equinox and the next day is celebrated as the first day of the new year based on the lunar calendar depending on the position of the moon, the calculation tradition goes as far back as the 12th century.

On the special day everyone wakes up before the sunrise, takes an oil bath, goes to temple, decorate their houses beautifully with columns (muggulu) mango leaves decorations (toranalu) and treat themselves and everyone with special dishes. Some of the special dishes are;

Bevu Bella & Pachadi

A mix of all flavours - sweet, sour, bitter, salty -  prepared from Jaggery paste, neem buds, tamarind and raw mangoes. 

It symbolizes the fact that life is a mixed bag and prepares one to expect everything in the days to come.

Kolamulu (Muggulu)

The preparation for the festival begins atleast a week in advance and will include, cleaning of the houses and premises, buying of new clothes etc..
It's a public holiday in the states of Andhra, Telengana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharastra where it is known as "Gudi Padawa". 

Sri Venkaiah Swamy of Golagamudi

Saturdays at Golagamudi, a village near Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India,  comes alive with hundreds of devotees visiting the temple abode of their saint, Sri Venkaiah Swamy. They come and spent the night over at the samadhi (tomb) of the saint in gratitude for the favours received and in supplementation.

Devotees making their dance offering on Saturday night. They come from all over Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. 

The saint died on August 24th, 1982 but his memory and the "Kundam" (the fire worship) is kept alive by his devotees. The trust that looks after the temple shrine continues the "Anna Dhaanam" (free food) and runs an excellent school which imparts quality education to the children of the village free of cost.

Devotional items. The shops selling them are busy on the weekends. 

A visit to Golagamudi is an excellent opportunity to understand and experience the spiritual, social and cultural lives of the Incredible Villages of India.