Hyderabad: The ‘Sadar Festival,’ also called ‘Dunnapothula Pandaga,’ is an annual celebration by the Yadav community. This festival is a unique carnival where buffaloes are showcased. Thousands of people gather to see the grand ‘Bulls’ during the ‘Sadar Sammelan.’
The Sadar Festival is celebrated on the second day of Diwali, marking Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana and his return to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile.
On Friday, the celebrations took place at Risala Bazar in Bolarum and Khairtabad. The biggest Sadar Sammelan is scheduled for Saturday at Narayanguda and Saidabad.
Organizers shared that buffaloes from various parts of the country participate in the event. However, the largest and most impressive buffaloes come from Haryana and Punjab, known for their massive size and majestic presence. This year, a special buffalo bull named ‘Gholu-2,’ a Murrah breed, will be featured. Gholu-2 weighs 1.8 tons, stands 7 feet tall, and was brought from Haryana. In the past, famous bulls like Yuvraj, Dara, and Shehenshah have also been showcased.
Naveen Singh, a farmer from Haryana, owns Gholu-2. The bull’s grandfather was called Gholu-1, and his father was named PC-483. Gholu-2 was born and raised in Panipat and has a unique diet. He consumes around 30 kg of green and dry fodder daily, along with 7.5 kg of a special mixture made from wheat and grams.
Hari Babu Yadav, the General Secretary of the All India Yadav Mahasabha, explained that the Sadar Festival is a community gathering. About 20 years ago, it was only celebrated in Hyderabad, but now it is held in all districts and mandals across the state. People from different communities also join in, and thousands of spectators come to witness the event.
During the festival, buffaloes are decorated with oil, painted in bright colors, and adorned with garlands around their necks. They wear anklets (gajjalu), sea-shell bands with bells around their necks or foreheads, and even peacock feathers on their horns. The procession will start at Musheerabad and end at Narayanaguda on Saturday.
