Chapter on tribal fest in class X Telugu textbook

Visakhapatnam: A lesson on the Goddess Modakondamma festival, the most significant tribal celebration in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, has now been incorporated into the Class X Telugu textbook.
The presiding deity, Modakondamma, attracts lakhs of devotees annually. Recognised as a state festival by the AP govt in 2014, the temple itself draws thousands of visitors daily.The Paderu tribal region in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district is renowned for its natural beauty. Here, Goddess Modakondamma is revered as the tribal deity. "Modam" means happiness, and thus the goddess residing in the hills is called Kondamma.
According to devotees, the unique characteristic of the mother goddess is her ability to bestow happiness, which is the foundation of all desires. Every year in May, a three-day festival is celebrated in her honour with great pomp and splendour.
This festival is the largest tribal fair in the state, famed for its grand celebrations. The tribal dance Dhimsa is a special attraction at this fair. Devotees from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Godavari districts, as well as from the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, flock in large numbers to offer their prayers.
The state govt officially recognised it as a state festival in 2014.