Namaste!

Few of us, doctor friends met at Vadlamudi in the Lemon gardens of Dr.Rayapati Mamatha.  First, there was a trip to Sangam Milk  Dairy.  I was late for that trip and missed it. Others had a great tour through milk processing, sweet making, etc.

In the gardens, the program started with a sincere prayer to the AMLA tree by devout lady doctors. Pandals and floor mats were neatly done. Excellent lunch was served. Good games were arranged for the kids. All had a good time.

Vanabhojanam, also known as Vanbhojan, vanabhojanalu etc is a kind of ritual annual picnic undertaken during Kartika masam in Andhra Pradesh.  In the Indian tradition, plants are considered to be of divine nature and worshiped.  Tulasi (Ocimum), Usiri (Amla), Bilva, and Durva plants are considered divine and used in  Pujas. ” Kartika Vana mahotsavam” is a religious event, but is now celebrated as a cultural program and on occasions fully loaded with entertainment like singing and dancing. It is a platform for fostering friendship and strengthening relations amongst people.

It is a belief that Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi prefer to reside under Amla trees during Kartika month.  Telugu families were said to be maintaining at least one AMLA tree in their courtyards. With the advent of apartment/flat cultures, vanabhojanalu has all the deeper relevance.

At least once during this Kartika month, traditionally people are expected to cook food under these trees after pooja and consume that food as prasad. Offering puja to Lord Vishnu and other Gods, and reciting Vishnu Purana and Kartika Purana during Vana mahotsavam are prescribed rituals during this event.  There are few who still follow all the rituals rigorously. Many depend on catering as we did. But we had our pooja!