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The newly harvested rice is
cooked on this festive occasion to acclaim the bounty of Gods.
Sankranthi, the biggest harvest festival, is celebrated over
three days. Each day is marked by different festivities. The
first day, Bhogi, is a day for the family. On this day
the entire family wakes early in the morning and burns waste
wooden rubbish accumulated through the year. Cleaning and
burning of rubbish symbolizes the destruction of evil. Also on
this day, the elders in the family pour different varieties of
small fruit known as 'Bhogi Pallu' on the heads of
their children. This is performed to bless the children with
prosperity and good health.
The second day, Sankranthi or Makara Sankranthi,
is dedicated to the worship of 'Surya', the Sun God.
The day marks the Sun's journey to the Capricorn ('Makara'
raasi) of Northern Hemisphere, signifying the onset of 'Uttarayana
Punyakalam', and is a day of celebration all over the
country. On this occasion relatives and friends meet and greet
one another along with having delicious dishes. The festive
specials include 'sakinaalu', 'ariselu', 'jantikalu', 'chakralu'
and 'kajjikayalu'.
The third day, Kanumu, is for worship of the cattle and
other domestic animals. On this day, the cattle are bathed,
their horns polished and painted in bright colors. Different
garlands of flowers and small bells of brass are placed around
their necks. In the night, a bonfire is lit and the animals
are made to jump over the fire. It is a big event for the
people of Andhra Pradesh and the Tamils. The pongali
offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.
The advent of Sankranthi is associated with Spring.
Colorfully decorated designs or rangolis, known as 'Muggulu',
are drawn in the front of every household during this month.
These artistic floral designs are drawn on the floor with rice
flour or fine powder from limestone. These patterns are
decorated with marigold placed on 'cowdung' balls
called 'Gobbemmalu'. Colorfully dressed young girls go
around them singing songs. The village scenes are really
enchanting with 'Haridasus' and 'Gangireddulu'.
In some parts of Southern India, Rath Yatra and Bullock-cart
processions are taken out from the near by Temples. In
some places adventurous pastimes like 'Jelli Kattu' are
performed. In this pastime bundles of money are tied to the
horns of bulls, and villagers try and wrest the bundles from
them. In some villages, community meals are arranged to mark
the festive occasion.
In January the streets of Hyderabad are bustling with
seasonal lingo. With Sankranthi, the festival of kites, many
places in the twin cities are brimming with kite-flyers,
literally. The Annual Kite Festival is organized at Shilparamam
and some other parts of the City. There are many sporting kite
flyers around to take the challenge. Various sizes of kites
are on display from the palm sized small ones to the huge 'Takhthe
ka patang'. 'Maanja', 'kheench', 'pench', 'dheel'
-- it's time for the 'Patang' talk. The charkas
get stripped of the thread as it is spun around the thumb and
the small finger in a fascinating style. Very striking are the
names too. A whole range is unfolded for the season as kite
enthusiasts jostle, push and indulge in hectic bargain for
their choicest stuff.
The Sankranthi festive occasion is really a fun-filled one
where all people starting from the common man to the elit take
part, with lots of fun and frolic.
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