Symposium at NSU highlights Chenchu tribe’s link to Ahobilam shrine

The National Sanskrit University (NSU) organised a symposium, panel discussion and an exhibition on ‘Ahobila Paruveta Utsavam’, here on Friday (December 12, 2025), highlighting the unique privilege the Chenchu tribal community has with the Ahobilam shrine and the deity of Lord Narasimha.

The event, which was conducted in collaboration with the Tirupati unit of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and the Nandyal chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), provided the right platform for a detailed discussion on the historical, ritualistic, social, and artistic significance of the ‘Paruveta Utsavam,’ a festival that resembles mock hunting, a unique practice that has been passed on through generations for centuries.

NSU Vice-Chancellor G.S.R. Krishnamurthy, who formally inaugurated the event, emphasised the importance of academic institutions in conducting scientific research on Indian festival traditions deeply embedded in the country’s intangible cultural heritage.

Calling festivals like ‘Paruveta’ as reflecting the ‘eternal brilliance of Indian civilisation’, he advocated the importance of enhanced supervision and collection of research papers on such practices.

IGNCA’s Tirupati Regional Director K.T.V. Raghavan recalled the anthropological and mythological importance of the Ahobilam traditions and dwelt on the crucial role played by IGNCA in preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage. He said that the NSU was also committed to cultural research and heritage preservation, thus contributing to Indian traditional knowledge, spirituality, and artistic heritage.

INTACH Nandyal chapter’s co-convener K.B. Sethuraman presented a research paper on the historical background of the 45-day folk festival, which involves participation from the indigenous (Chenchu) tribal communities as well as the temple priests, thus breaching the barriers of social and caste divisions. He also explained in this context the proposal to seek UNESCO recognition to this unique practice as “an intangible heritage”.

A specially curated exhibition showcased rare photographs, traditional art pieces, and visual narratives, which helped the visitors experience the spiritual and cultural grandeur of the unique folk festival.