Paruveta Festival: Learn All About this ‘Mock Hunting Festival’ of Andhra Pradesh

What is the Paruveta festival? This festival, also known as the ‘mock hunting festival,’ is celebrated at the Sri Narasimha Swamy temple in the town of Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh.

The unique aspect of this festival is that it is celebrated by all sections of people, irrespective of their caste.

It is a festival of communal harmony, as devotees from other religious communities, including Muslims, also offer prayers to the Lord.

Origin of the Paruveta festival
According to folklore, Lord Vishnu, upon his incarnation as a man-lion (Narasimha) in Ahobilam, married Maha Lakshmi, who was born as a tribal girl named Chenchulakshmi.

Legend has it that the festival originates from the story of Lord Vishnu’s avatar as Narasimha, the man-lion, in Ahobilam. As the tale goes, Narasimha wedded Maha Lakshmi, who reincarnated as Chenchulakshmi, a tribal girl. Beliefs such as their regard for Ahobila Narasimha as their brother-in-law and their tradition of inviting Him home on Makar Sankranti have also been recorded.