History
Legend has it that Mastan Vali (Sri Nalla Mastan Baba) was born at Tiruchinapalli in Tamil Nadu. After spending his childhood, he left his home and started a penance attaining several supernatural powers. He wandered several places before ending his life in Guntur on May 23, 1895. Though the age of the saint has not been ascertained so far, popular fables abound with tales of the saint living close to 250 years or so. Several tales of magical and mysterious tales of Mastan Vali has made the Dargah a popular abode for many believers cutting across religious lines.
Sri Nalla Mastan used to stay as an Avadhoota in Guntur almost 150 years ago. He taught religious harmony.
Thousands of devotees from Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, Krishna and other districts throng the Mastan dargah on the "urs'' day to offer prayers to the baba
Special rituals would be done to the holy chair on which Baba was believed to have been seated on and a holy cot on which he was believed to have reclined until his death.
The highlight of the five-day celebrations is a colorful procession called ‘Chandal’ by Fakirs who walk through the main roads of the town. The procession starts from an old house in which the Baba was stated to have lived during his times. Accompanied by folk artistes, the Fakirs will begin the procession after offering prayers at the Holy Chair in Kannavarithota. They reach the Dargah and offer prayers at the Holy Cot.