Sphoorthi Theatre

  A Festival Rooted in Grace In the sacred rhythm of the Karthika month , Iyengar households celebrate Aane Habba —the festival where Aane is Sriman Narayana himself , the bounty of all gracious things. It is a time when devotion, play, and community converge, transforming homes into sanctuaries of light and joy.   Significance Beyond Ritual Aane Habba is not only worship but also women’s gathering and playtime , sculpting together, involving children, and respecting the soil. The act of shaping elephants from clay becomes a gesture of connectivity with Mother Earth , reminding us that divinity is inseparable from ecology and community.   Rituals of Clay and Light Clay Sculpting: Elephants are made from clay, decorated with thiruman , adorned with silk vastram , and placed on a peetham decorated with rangoli. Pooja: Married women perform pooja, offer naivedyam , and do harathi —with camphor, red-colored water, and pradakshina nama...

 A Cosmic Prelude Long ago, the earth was submerged in water. To rescue Her, Lord Sriman Narayana assumed the form of Varaha , the mighty boar, and plunged into the muddy depths, lifting the earth back into safety.  Yet Sri Bhoomi Piratti , the presiding deity of the earth, was deeply troubled. She worried for Her children, bound in worldly suffering. Seeking deliverance for them, She asked the Lord for a path ( Upaya ).  Narayana, holding Her tenderly on His lap, narrated the story of Nampaduvan in the village of Thirukkurungudi near Thirunelveli , assuring Her that salvation lies in singing His glory — Gana Rupa Upayam .  The Kaisika Purana is the 48th chapter of the Varaha Purana and is traditionally referred to as “Kaisika Mahatyam”. The term “Kaishika Pann” denotes a tradition of singing hymns dedicated to the Almighty, set to a specific style of recitation accompanied by music. Similarly, there is a practice known as Naivalam, which is noted in Thirumangai ...

In the heart of Telangana, where traditions bloom like marigolds in courtyards, Odi Biyyam —also known as Vodi Biyyam —remains a quietly profound custom. It transcends caste and time, echoing the enduring bond between a married woman and her natal home. Though its prevalence varies, and its practice among Brahmin communities may be less common, its emotional and symbolic weight is deeply felt across Telangana Telugu households.   What Is Odi Biyyam ? The term itself is poetic: Vodi means womb or lap, and Biyyam means rice grains. The ritual involves filling the lap of a married woman with rice and other gifts, symbolizing blessings, prosperity, and the lifelong emotional responsibility her birth family carries. Performed for married couples, the ceremony features five married women who come one after another to pour rice into a cloth tied around the woman’s neck and held in both hands—forming a basket-like shape that evokes the womb. This act honours the woman as a living ...