Peerla Panduga, the local Telugu term for Muharram, occupies a distinct role in Deccan India. Unlike the Shia traditions of Muharram, which centre on mourning rituals, it unfolds as a carnival, except on Ashura day. Based on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in a village in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, India, this study employs participant observation, casual conversations and semi-structured interviews to examine the belief systems surrounding Peerla Panduga through the framework of ‘collective memory’. The findings reveal how this particular festival has been instrumental in bringing communities together and fostering a composite culture, albeit temporarily, while comprising a diversity of practices and contestations. These religious experiences also challenge and negotiate with the textual doctrines promoted by religious reformist organisations.
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