Hundreds of devotees at Durga temple in Vijayawada were enthralled by a riveting dance performance

Hundreds of devotees waiting in queue outside Sri Durga Malleswara Swamywarla Devasthanams' inner sanctorum on October 19, a Thursday, were mesmerised by an amazing dance performance during rush hour. A group from Amalapuram performed "Garaga Natyam," an age-old dance from the Godavari area, for more than half an hour, as the devotees gazed on in wonder. 15 people total, including 6 dancers and 9 musicians, performed while wearing "Garagalu" (typically metal pots) on their heads.

Prasad Mani, the group leader, states that "balancing the pots" is the problem. Donning vibrant, hand-stitched outfits, the dancers execute an array of movements while deftly maintaining the pot balanced on their heads.

"We adore the garaga and adorn it with flowers and neem leaves each time before we perform. Mr. Prasad Mani, who learned the dance from his father when he was fifteen, explained that it is a symbolic gesture of entertaining the Goddess by carrying her on our heads, much like we carry children. He currently instructs young people in his community in the dancing genre.