Ponnekallu

Ponnekallu is a major panchayat village in Tandikonda Manadal of Guntur district, in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 16 km from Gutur city. The village is largely agriculturally dependent.

History

Temples

Shivalayam is a Hindu temple in the village. The temple was constructed around 400 years ago by Raja Vasireddy, who also constructed the Amaravathi Temple and the Ponnekallu Shivalayam which is under reconstruction.

There are a few other temples in the village which are The Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmam Gari temple, Anjaneya Swami temple, Ramalayam, Kanyakaparamesawri temple, Jadalamma temple ( The Village Goddess), Govindarajulu temple (above Ponnekallu Village Hill ) and Rampalamma temple in the middle of the agricultural fields.

Entertainment

Economy

Most of the economy is Agriculture and Agriculture based businesses dependent. State Bank of India and Co-Operating Society provides loans to the farmers and business men to support. SBI Bank and Post office helps people to save their money in different schemes. There are some private lenders who provide loans. Recent economic boom helped to raise the land prices of the villages which in tern helped to raise the standards of living in the village. People have started spending more money for children education now.

Schools and education

There are three Primary schools teaching from 1-5 classes and one High school named as Sri DVKR ZP High school teaching from 6th to 10th. High school has become exams centre also for 10th class for few other villages.Some of the students goes Tadikonds Jr College for Intermediate education after completion of 10th class. Some of the students goes to colleges at Guntur and remaining studies in corporate colleges mainly at Guntur. There is one corporate college at Lam whihch is near by to the students who attends classes, tutions while staying at the village.

There is one Library at Siva Centre where several news papers, magazines, novels are available for readig. People subscribe and read news papers privately and in groups at different meeting points and discuss actively about polities and current issues. Some of the aspirant and educated farmers subscribes Farming specialised magazines like Annadata and follow the up to date instructions advised in the magazines. Farmers also follows the advises from Lam Agriculture Form which is near to the village.

Ponnekallu is one of the villages which has a good number of educated people who worked at higher positions in the government sectors, working as IT processionals in Corporate companies in Indna, abroad and got people who is leading the CPI party and got people from Business background.

Agriculture and crops

Paddy, cotton, chillies, tobacco and peppers are major crops in the village.Chillies cultivation area has become more in the recent years as the village has become famous in producing and supplying Chilli seeds of Various varieties to several companies and through own brands. Almost 20 varieties of chillies are cultivated for seeds production.

Population

Ponnekallu is one of the major villeges in Tadikonda mandal having population of 9,381 (as of 2007)

Politics

Historically Indian congress leading the general elections. But after TDP came into the picture,gained lot of popularity among all the caste in the village. Now TDP is the leading party in the village. CPI and CPM existence also wide popular in the village.

This village comes under Tadikonda Assembly, Tadikonda Mandal and Guntur district. Previously it was under Mangalagiri Taluka.At the Village level Ponnekallu has Panchayati and Co-operative society for local ruling. CPI has been winning Panchayati president position with alliance of Congress and Congress is getting Co-operating society president position for the past two terms of elections.

Transport

There are number of APSRTC buses transport people from the village to the nearest big city Guntur. There are several private vans also available to travel to Guntur. People travel to other long distances like Hyderabad using public and private transport from Guntur. Since the village is not far from Guntur, it is much convenient to travel to long and short distances from the very near by city Guntur. From Guntur APSRTC Bus Station, Ponnekallu Buses are available and from Petrol Bunk, Taluka and Lodge centres at Guntur, private wehicles are available.

Culture

Majority of the people practice Hindu customs, have got muslims and christians also living together in the village.Sankranthi, Sivaratri, Ugadi, Sri Ramanavami, Vinayaka Chaviti are the main festivals being celebrated.Villagers have custom of celebrating worships to Jadalamma's and Govindarajulu Swami temple requesting for rain for cultivation during rainy season. Villagers have got customs of conducting competitions for bulls pulling big block of stone and bullock carts with bulls.

Ponnekallu is knows for playing and conducting tournaments of Kabaddi in Mdandal level up to the last 10 years back. The younger generation is much interested in playing cricket. Ponnekallu school players are also knows for playing Ball Badminton at zonal level.

Geography

References

[http://wikimapia.org/380692/]

Category:Villages in Guntur district