Kalikiri

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kalikiri
type = Town
latd = 13.6333 | longd = 78.8000
state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = Chittoor
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altitude = 545
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Kalikiri is a small town with a population of around 25,000 in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The town is famous for its huge tomato market, which supplies tons of tomatoes to other Districts in Andhra Pradesh and other states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Geography

Kalikiri is located at coord|13.6333|N|78.8000|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Kalikiri.html Falling Rain Genomics.Kalikiri] ] It has an average elevation of 545 meters (1791 feet).

The place falls in the route between madanapalli and Tirupathi. This is a laid back town. This is 45 KM from Madanapalli. The place is very scenic and has a rural flavour.

Important features

*Its very close to the two main cities of south India Bangalore and Chennai each 150 km .
*The main deity of the town is Yellamma, where there is an annual festival conducted to worship the deity. The annual festival (named Thirunaala in telugu) is a very famous event among the population in and around Kalikiri. The event attracts more than 100,000 people combined in the 10 day event. One of the attractions of the event are the "chandni bandlu" (decorated vehicles) that are paraded around the temple as a mark of respect to the deity. This custom started when farmers used to decorate bullock carts and parade them. Recently we have some of the vehicles being decorated at a cost of almost Rs50K to Rs75K. The whole event takes in a festival atmosphere as these beautifully decorated vehicles along with all the people associated with the vehicle come dancing into the town in middle of the night to parade their vehicle around the temple. Of course there is a lot of good food and wine on the night attracting and enthusing the crowds late into the night making it a spectacular event for people taking part in it.
* The parading of these vehicles starts from midnight as the vehicles keep pouring in from all the nearby villages.
* The event ends with Lanka Dahanam. An effigy of Ravana is erected with all crackers wound around it, and burnt.
*The culture here is an influence of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Going by how festivals, marriages and other ceremonies are conducted the culture can be said to be an amalgamation of Rayalaseema and Dravidian cultures. The place is an example of a typical Indian country side with lots of open space
*Large number of Telugu speaking Muslims (Dudekula) live here, it is the place where we can find artistic culture of telugu muslims unlike in any other part of the state. Jama Masjid here is very famous in surrounding towns for its artistic architecture and customs, Muslims celebrate the Festivals (Ramzan, Bakrid) in very grand manner. Hindus and Muslims together celebrate the festival as a symbol of friendship between the communities. Muslims offer their guests Seviya (a form of sweet) and Biryani (A rice preparation mixed with meat).
*It is also named for the traditional treatment for paralysis with Ayurveda medicine, people come here for the treatment from far places even from other states.
*Nallari Amarnatha Reddy who was an ex-minister of AP belonged to this town and served people here as MLA of Vayalpad for more than 9 years. Now his son Nallari Kirankumar Reddy is also elected as MLA of Vayalpad for 13 years (3 terms) and designated as Chief whip of Andhra Pradesh Assembly of the state Government. He is involved with many development works taken up in Kalikiri.
*Pallavola Surender Reddy is DCCB director for Kalikiri Co-operative bank . He belongs to Guttapalem panchayat and once he was elected as a Panchayat Sarpanch and awarded "BEST PANCHAYAT SARPANCH" from District Collector. Rahamthulla is MPP of Kalikiri Mandal. Gopinath is Sarpanch of Kalikiri Gram Panchayat. Notable Panchayat presidents are Nallari Bhaskar Reddy (Served between early 60's to Late 80's). Former Zilla Parishad Member Nallari Chandra Kumar Reddy. Former Mandal president Nallari Anand Reddy and Nallari Lakshmikar Reddy
* It is in the folk lore that Kalikiri got its name from two dancer sisters Kalki and Kulki who were gifted the land from the local ruler. Although this fact is not documented anywhere it is what is passed on from the older generation orally.
* Kalikiri has quite a few villages adjoining its suburbs. Notable are Pottekulavaripalli, Cheruvu Mundhara Palli.

References