Nelakarthi
New Moon Ritual
Setting: Khammam forest village (Khammam).
In English: New Moon Ritual. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
New Moon Ritual
Mantra's 11th repetition ga , Perantaalu-priestess Tulasamma aayana thala slowly ga raise chesindhi. Aayana eyes ga closed-ga the 10 previous-repetitions ga. Aayana oora-center's banyan-tree courtyard's specific-stone-platform ga sitting, surrounded ga 9 other-women (ages 38-65), each oka-oka ga oil-lamp tho, nelakarthi-night's primary-vigil ga. New moon sky ga pitch-dark ga , chandrudu ledu , stars levu , village's electricity ga 11 PM ki scheduled-cut ga (monthly maintenance + nelakarthi-tradition-aligned ga). Only the 10-lamps' ga pale-amber-light ga.
Tulasamma: "Amma-peranthalalu , memu ippudu 11th invocation ga. Mana pedha-amma-perantaalulu , mana great-pedha-amma-perantaalulu , aa 9 tharaathi-generations' ga female-ancestor-lineage ga , meeku memu invoke ga. Oora's next-quarter ki blessings-path ga advise ga, mana family-lineages ki warnings ga, open hearts tho receive ga." Aayana voice low-steady ga.
Standard nelakarthi-ritual-protocol ga , invocation ga perantaalu-priestess ga voice-ga ga invoked ga , but ancestor-response ga customarily ga silent-internal ga experienced by each individual woman ga , silent-prayer-reception ga. No external-response typical ga. Aayana's own lineage's women ga a felt-presence ga guide-internal-ga receive ga.
Kaani aa kshanam ga , 11:38 PM ki , a specific ga response-event ga. Aa banyan-tree's ga top-canopy nunchi ga , a voice ga , female-register ga , not-internal ga , externally ga distinctly-audible ga ga 10 women ki all-together ga:
Voice: "Tulasamma, nenu Rathnamma , nee great-pedha-nanamma. 1887 lo nenu chanipoya. Ippudu nenu respond ga. Mee invocation-specific-ga-direct-answer ga required ippudu. Listen."
10 women's ga collective ga intake-of-breath ga. No person-ga ever had ga a direct-auditory ga response in aa village's ga multi-generational ga nelakarthi-practice ga. Tulasamma her-own-body ga slight ga trembled ga , but aayana priestess-role-discipline ga maintained , aayana silent-acknowledgment ga.
Tulasamma: "Rathnamma amma, memu listen ga. Speak ga, humble ga."
Aa context ki frame. Khammam district's Wajedu mandal-side forest-village , Pedda-Vanaparthi (fictional small village, Khammam-rural lo a general category). Village ga forest-edge ga located ga, 120 households ga, primarily ga Koya-tribal community ga with a mix of non-tribal farmers ga 30%. Village's nelakarthi-tradition ga , each-amavasya-night (new-moon) ga , village's perantaalu-priestess ga a specific group-ritual conducts ga , female-ancestor-lineage veneration ga. Practice ga 150+ years ga continuous ga, family-lineage ga priestess-role ga inherited ga mother-to-daughter ga.
Current priestess Tulasamma (54) ga 2008 nunchi ga, mother Sarojamma (chanipoyaru 2008 age 79) ga prior priestess ga. Tulasamma's daughter Premasalini (28) ga next-generation-trainee ga, aa specific-night ga ritual ga observing-apprentice ga position ga , stone-platform ga outer-ring ga a subordinate-role.
2023 August 16 Wednesday , aa year's August amavasya ga. Standard-ritual ga conducted. Aa night's ga specific-concern ga village's a 2023 summer-season ga two-deaths ga , village's 19-year-old Mangamma (agricultural-accident, July 28) + village's 41-year-old Ramesh (snake-bite, August 5). Both-deaths ga community-grief ga , perantaalu-invocation ga to aa sudden-loss-pattern ga a specific-guidance ga seek ga aa night's intention.
Ritual's 11th-mantra-repetition ga aa exact-moment ga Rathnamma-voice ga responded ga.
Rathnamma's voice ga canopy nunchi continued.
Rathnamma: "Tulasamma, memu 9-generations female-lineage ga mee nelakarthi lo always-present ga, silent-listening ga usually. Aa 2023 summer's rendu-deaths ga aa pattern ga kaani standard-misfortune ga kaadu. Aa pattern ga specific-cause ga , oora's north-boundary's 2008 lo constructed small-chekada (check-dam) ga , aa construction's a specific-act ga violated a tribal sacred-grove's ga specific-clearing ga. Aa time's panchayat-sarpanch Ramchandraiah (chanipoyaru 2019 ga) + contract-developer Yadgiri ga knew ga, but proceeded-ga project's revenue ga. Aa grove's ancestor-spirits ga 15 years ga silent-suspension ga , kaani 2023 summer's specific-alignment (ecological-stress + a specific karta-lineage-awakening) ga triggered-responses ga. Rendu deaths ga aa responses' first-two-manifestations. If un-addressed ga 2024 summer ki 2 more ga, then 2025 2 more ga. Cumulative-escalation ga pattern."
10 women ga silent ga. Rathnamma's voice ga continued.
Rathnamma: "Tulasamma , the-solution-path ga exists ga. Mana community ga aa grove-violation ga formal-restoration ga possible ga. Rendu specific-steps ga , (1) aa check-dam's removal kaadu ga , kaani modified ga , a specific ga spirit-appeasement-consecration ga add ga , the dam-structure-itself ga a shrine-incorporation ga. (2) Grove's original-clearing-location ga protect ga a formal-village-committee ga, 100-meter-buffer ga fenced ga, annual-offering ga. Implementation timeframe ga 2023 December ki complete ga. 2024 summer ki re-balanced ga."
Tulasamma: "Rathnamma amma, community ga village-council-process tho ga aa-steps ga implement cheyyali. Council's decision-support ga aavasyakam ga. Nuvvu aa council ki direct ga message-deliver ga possible aaa? Or only priestess-channel ga?"
Rathnamma: "Priestess-channel ga primary ga. Kaani aa council's 11-members ga 10 mandhi ki this-message's validation-dreams ga deliver ga this-week ga 7-day-window ga. 11th member ga resist ga, intentional-test ga. Aayana-decision-lesson ga individual's choice ga."
Rathnamma-voice ga paused ga. Then aa voice ga , a specific-secondary-warning ga.
Rathnamma: "Tulasamma , second-topic ga. Mee own daughter Premasalini ga ee platform ki outer-ring ga sit ga. Aayana nee successor ga priestess-role ga. Kaani aayana's 2025 scheduled-marriage ga Ramadevaiah's-son Kartik ga aa engagement-family ga, Kartik's ga forest-contractor-business ga tho, aa business's ga 2020-23 ga a specific forest-clearing-license's ga corruption-pattern ga includes ga , small-scale-bribery ga forest department officials ga , multiple-sacred-groves ga minor-violations ga a pattern. Aa business ga non-harm-principle-violation ga structural. Premasalini aa family ga marriage-into ga her priestess-lineage ga compromise ga. Priestess-role ga requires ga non-harm-aligned ga household ga. Aa alliance ga revoke ga recommend ga, new-alliance ga priestess-family ki aligned ga explore ga."
Tulasamma ga slow ga thala thippindhi, Premasalini vaipu chusindhi. Premasalini's face ga ambient-lamp-glow lo pale ga , aayana own-earphone ga overheard ga ancestor-voice's aayana-personally-naming ga. Aayana silent ga. Eyes closed ga , but aayana body visibly-tremoring ga.
Tulasamma: "Rathnamma amma, Premasalini's ga marriage-family-research ga priestess-line ga full-awareness ga not-initially ga. Ippudu nee warning clarify ga. Aayana decision ga Premasalini-own ga respect ga, but family-level counseling ga aa alliance pros/cons weigh ga."
Rathnamma: "OK Tulasamma. Third-topic ga final-one ga. Village's 2023 summer-loss rendu-families ki personal-ga , Mangamma family + Ramesh family , a community-compensation-gesture ga restoration-plan lo include ga. Rs 2 lakh each ga community-fund ga, panchayat-approval ga. Aa families ki direct-healing-gesture ga community-solidarity ga."
Tulasamma acknowledged ga.
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Bathukamma Poolu
Rathnamma: "Invocation complete ga. Nenu withdraw ga. Nelakarthi-practice ga continue ga mee community-protection ga. Next-amavasya September 15 ki check-in ga, progress ga review. Tulasamma, lead ga community-council-communication this-week ga. Safe-ga sleep ga mee all ga tonight."
Voice faded ga gradually ga , canopy's leaves ga slight-rustle ga , then natural-night-silence ga returned ga. Lamps flickered ga steady again ga. 10 women ga silent ga 5 minutes post-withdraw ga sitting-together ga , absorbing ga.
Ritual closed 12:30 AM ga. Women ga individual ga village's homes ki dispersed ga. Tulasamma-Premasalini home-together ga. Mother-daughter conversation ga a specific-candid-private ga 1 AM-to-3 AM ga , Premasalini's marriage-engagement's full-context-disclosure including ga Kartik-family's business ga reputation ga Premasalini's-own ga awareness ga, Premasalini's own-ambivalence ga months-accumulated ga.
Premasalini: "Amma, Kartik-family's business ga naaku 2023 June nunchi chinna-concerns ga , aayana forest-contract ga specific projects ga ethical-compromises naaku aware ga. Kaani naa engagement ga 2022 November ga formalized ga, family-commitment ga, backing-out ga social-friction ga heavy ga, plus Kartik personally ga a kind-man ga. Ippudu ancestor-warning-direct ga , naaku ga clarity ga. Naa priestess-succession aa business-family tho ga incompatible ga, engagement-withdraw ga the-right-path ga."
Tulasamma supportive ga. Mother-daughter decided ga formal-engagement-withdrawal ga August 20 Sunday ki execute ga, respectful-reasons ga communicated.
August 17 Thursday morning. Tulasamma village-panchayat ki a specific-meeting requested ga. Council 11-members gathered ga , Tulasamma full-disclosure ga the previous-night's ancestor-communication-details ga. 10-members silent-absorbing ga. 7-of-10 ga private-mentioned ga , "last-night aa specific-dream ga naaku vacchindhi , similar-theme ga." Ancestor's predicted dream-validation ga confirmed-across ga.
11th-member , a specific council-elder Parasuramaiah (58, landlord-background ga, Yadgiri-developer's ga business-linked ga) , skeptical ga, "Tulasamma's narrative ga respectful ga listen ga, but council's decisions ga empirical-evidence ga require ga, not spirit-channels ga." 11-1 vote ga passed ga for the restoration-plan.
Restoration-plan ga 2023 September-December ga executed ga. (1) Check-dam's physical-structure ga maintained ga , but aa dam's top-center ga a specific small-shrine ga (3-feet x 3-feet granite platform ga with a tribal-ancestor carving ga) ga consecrated ga October 2023 ki, village's Koya-tribal priest Bhima-Lachha (72) ga conducted ga rituals. (2) Original-grove's clearing-location (200 meters ga from the dam ga) ga identified ga, a bamboo-fence installed, 100-meter-buffer, annual-offering-practice initiated ga.
(3) Mangamma + Ramesh families ki Rs 2-lakh each ga community-compensation ga, panchayat-fund ga. Aa families' aa funds' utilization ga Mangamma family-side ga younger-sister's higher-education ga, Ramesh family-side ga home-repair + children's schooling.
Premasalini-Kartik engagement ga August 20 Sunday ga formal-withdrawal ga. Kartik's family-initial-upset ga, but-a-respectful ga dialogue tho ga eventually-accepted ga. Premasalini ga 2024 December ki ga a different-family's son ga engagement ga , the new-fiance's family-background ga priestess-compatible ga (a agricultural-family, non-contractor, clean-practices). Marriage ga 2025 February ga conducted ga , simple-ceremony ga.
2023 September 15 amavasya's ga follow-up nelakarthi-vigil. Rathnamma ga again-present ga, her-voice a-brief-ga confirmation ga , "Tulasamma, implementation-progress-noted ga. Grove-buffer ga installed, dam-shrine ga October-pending-schedule ga acknowledged. Families' ga compensation-distributed ga. Premasalini's engagement-withdraw-complete ga. Village ga 2024 summer ki re-balanced ga. Nenu standard-silent-listening-role ki return ga. Rare-external-voice ga emergency-channel ga only."
Voice withdrew ga. Subsequent ga nelakarthi-vigils 2023 September-onwards ga standard-silent-internal-experience ga returned ga , Rathnamma ga not externally ga re-engaged ga.
2024 summer ga village ga a specific-quiet ga. Zero-deaths ga (natural-causes ga 1 elder ga age-83 December 2023 ga , not-anomalous). Agricultural-yield ga normal-to-above-average ga 2024 kharif. Monsoon-rainfall ga adequate ga. Community-level ga restoration's effectiveness ga ga observed-and-attributed ga.
2024 July ga Parasuramaiah ga (the 11th-council-member who voted-against) ga a specific illness ga , liver-complications ga, hospitalized ga 6 weeks ga Khammam Government General Hospital ga. Aayana illness's severity moderate ga, recovery eventual ga by October 2024 ga. Aayana ga hospital-bed ga 2024 August ga Tulasamma-ki ga private-visit ga requested ga , direct-apologized ga, "Tulasamma gaaru, naa 2023 August vote ga personal-commercial-linkage-ga ga skepticism ga amplified. Ippudu village's 2024 improvements ga 2023-rendu-deaths vs 2024-zero-loss ga empirical ga , naa 2023-skepticism ga wrong ga. Plus naa own-illness ga ancestor-warning's ga personal-response ga perhaps. Naa future-votes ga priestess-guidance ga respect ga."
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Devasthanam Kattalu
Tulasamma accepted ga.
2025-26 ki Pedda-Vanaparthi village's community-standing ga , a specific ga "ancestor-counsel-engaged" community ga regionally-known ga. Adjacent villages ga several-times ga consult-visits ga, Khammam district's ga sacred-grove-protection-committee ga 2024 nunchi Tulasamma ki advisory-seat ga offered ga , she accepted.
Premasalini 2025 February-wedding-post ga own ga priestess-training continuous ga, 2026 ki ga ga 4 months-ga advanced ga, Tulasamma's mother-daughter passing-of-the-line ga on-schedule ga.
Rathnamma's voice ga aa 2023 August 16 night's ga singular-external-emergency-manifestation ga, subsequent ga all-standard-silent-channel ga. Community-level ga understanding ga , "external-voice emergency-preservation ga rare-reserve ga, silent-channel's daily-listening ga devotion's primary-practice."
Village's north-edge check-dam ga, ippudu ga a specific functional-shrine-combined structure ga, annual community-ritual-site ga. Grove-buffer ga daily-observed ga by rotating-household ga. Mangamma-Ramesh families ga gradual-recovery ga 2024-26 ga, community's solidarity-steady ga.
Aa specific 2023 August 16 amavasya night ga , Pedda-Vanaparthi village's collective-memory ga , a generational-threshold ga. Nelakarthi ga ancient-practice ga , a specific-year's specific-event ga community-continuity ga preserved. Violence-against-sacred-spaces ga's deep-tissue ga community-repercussions ga , non-harm-aligned restoration's effectiveness ga , a specific lived-example ga documented ga.
Author's note
Real-world context: Wikipedia — Telangana
Khammam district's forest-edge villages ki nenu 2023-24 ga multiple trips ga , Sanjana's work's ga a specific rural-outreach-project ga a Khammam-based NGO tho ga. Aa trips lo tribal Koya-community's perantaalu-tradition ga , non-tribal villages' parallel ancestor-veneration-practices ga, nelakarthi-style amavasya-ritual-forms ga multiple-variations ga observed ga. Each village's practice-slight-variations ga, but core-pattern ga consistent ga , new-moon-night's ancestor-invocation ga protective-community-maintenance ga. 2008-era check-dam + sacred-grove-violation-patterns ga genuinely-documented ga multiple-Telangana-villages-lo rural-development's-unintended-consequences ga, state's 2023 amendment ga sacred-grove formal-protection ga this context's response ga. Ancestor-voice-external-manifestation ga story-device ga full-fiction ga, but the community-level pattern of "elders' collective-wisdom ga nelakarthi-context ga surface-decisions ga" real-pattern ga. Mee village ki nelakarthi lekapothe amavasya-night's community-practice undaa? Comments lo share cheyyandi.
— Sai Kiran · Lighted Tales
© 2026 Sai Kiran Pandrala / Lighted Tales · https://teluguhorrorstories.blogspot.com
Original Telugu horror fiction. Folk-source material where referenced is public domain.
Modern characters, apartments, companies, and phone numbers are fictional.
Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, or events is coincidental.
Audio version: youtube.com/@Lightedtales
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