Girl offers Tulabharam with tomatoes equivalent to her weight in Andhra Pradesh

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

tomato prices, a peculiar incident involving tomatoes has been reported from Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli district — a young girl named Bhavishya offered 'Tulabharam' at the Sri Nookambika Ammavari temple in Gavara Veedhi with tomatoes equivalent to her weight. With tomato prices soaring between Rs 150 and 200 in the open market, Bhavishya's parents — Malla Jagga Appa Rao and Mohini — decided to fulfill their annual vow by performing the customary ritual with tomatoes. Bhavishya, weighing 51 kilograms, offered an equivalent weight of tomatoes to Goddess Nookambika, drawing a large crowd of onlookers.

Explaining the family's tradition, Appa Rao stated that every year, they participate in the Tulabharam ritual, usually donating vegetables and jaggery. However, this time, they opted for tomatoes due to their escalating prices. Moreover, they requested the temple authorities utilise the tomatoes in the annadana programme, expressing their intention to continue this tradition in the years to come.

Traditionally, devotees perform the Tulabharam ritual with items like the famous jaggery of Anakapalli, sugar, rice, fruits, coconuts, and coins. Some even offer silver, gold coins, or jewellery in major temples. The Ammavari temple, in particular, provides daily annadana prasadam, and the offered tomatoes will be incorporated into this sacred offering.