Kanaka Durgamma is responsible for cattle welfare and is appeased when there is cattle disease. At times she is also worshipped when there is any sickness among the people.
There is a customary method to worship Kanaka Durgamma. Some woman become possessed Kanaka Durgamma`s spirit and running to water will throw herself in. The people rescue her. Thereafter she runs to a margosa tree and break off twigs will put them in her mouth as if she was a mad woman. The people ask the woman about her identity as they wish to know what spirit has taken possession of her. Thereafter the people enquire about her demands. She puts her demand before the people and they are obeyed too.
The carpenter of the village makes a wooden image from a branch of a margosa tree. When the branch is cut off it should not be allowed to touch the ground else it would be tainted. The image looks rude. It is around two feet tall and represents a woman with a sword in her hand. The work should commence in the evening and should be completed before dawn. When the image is made it should be placed before water and kept there until the ceremonies are over. Meanwhile the Madigas make a booth in grove outside the village. This booth answers for the temple which the Goddess demands. Next day in the morning the village washer man takes the image from the water and carefully adorning it with jewels.
The image is now carried as it roams throughout the village. Before each and every house the procession stops and people bring out red coloured water to represent blood. It is poured before the image. Chicken is on of the major offerings made. The head of the chicken goes to the headsman and those who make the offering take the body for the feast. Thereafter the image is taken to the grove and placed in the booth. It is believed that the spirit of Kanaka Durgamma will go through the village again and seeing it isolated, will think that all people are dead and therefore would be happy to leave. In Nalgonda Kanaka Durgamma is not an intruder however she is considered as the village goddess.
