Konaseema (కోనసీమ ) is a delta located in East godavari district of
Andhrapradesh, India. This delta is surrounded on all sides by waters (of
Godavari and the Bay of Bengal). Konaseema is very near to the,District head
quarters Kakinada.
Konaseema is famous for its scenic greenery and vedic
scholars. The origin of the name may be from Telugu word "Kona"
meaning corner which resembles its shape. The northern side is
bounded by Gautami Godavari and southern side is bounded by Vasista Godavari.
It is one of most fertile lands present in Coromandel Coast. The
entire region is rich in Coconut trees, Mango groves,Cashew and paddy fields.
Until the 1996 cyclone which hit the area badly, the delta is
also renowned for its coconut production. Even now, Konaseema is
known after its coconut production and hence goes the phrase Konaseema
Kobbaraaku which signifies the prominence of Konaseema in coconut
production. One of the most significant components of Konaseema culture is the
food; a unique part of the cuisine is its reliance on abundant local produce
and sea food. There are delicacies made using Plantain flowers.
The inhabitants of Konaseema adopted a highly sustainable
life-style. For example, every part of a coconut tree is used: from roots to
the leaves and everything in between. This could probably be explained by the
geographic isolation from the mainland. Before the construction of critical
bridge infrastructure connecting to the mainland, water-based transportation
was the only option. This relative isolation led to Konaseema people becoming
extremely efficient at resource usage.
One has to witness a particular religious festival during
"Kaartika Maasam", when women wake up before dawn, pray at a temple
and light small lamps made of cotton dipped in cow ghee placed in a plantain
stem and left floating in the canals. It has to be seen and cannot be described
when you see floating lights, hundreds of them, lighting up a canal.The
festivals of Nagula Chavathi (snake worship), Siva Rathri (festival of Pre
Vedic God Siva) and Bhogi (harvest festival) were traditionally important in
the region. A race of Wooden elephants on wheels was popular in villages during
the Bhogi-Harvest season. On Nagula Chavathi milk is poured into ant hills of
snakes perhaps due to the importance of snakes for paddy fields. South Indian
village deities were worshipped traditionally the chief among them being
Poleramma and Nukalamma.
