Bonhomie and cheer of Sankranti

A sky full of kites, lighting of the oil lamps and houses filled with the smell of Khichidi and Kheer, Makar Sankranti has always been an absolute delight for all Indians. Some call it Lohri and some call it Pongal, but the entire nation welcomes the new season of harvest with the same joy and enthusiasm.

Makar Sankranti is considered to be one of the most auspicious festivals in India, as it is the festival of harvest.

The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti include bonfires with dancing and singing of songs, kite flying, making delicious sweets, decorating the houses with fragrant flowers and rangolis, hosting feasts and some also taking holy dips in sacred rivers, thanking and praying to the Sun God.

Like any other festival, Makar Sankranti bonds the people of Telangana and brings them together. Noted artist Ramana Reddy, who specialises in art pertaining to the vibrant culture of the State, explains how Makar Sankranti is considered to be one of the biggest festivals and is celebrated for three consecutive days in Telangana.

“The first day is called ‘Bhogi’, the second day is called ‘Makar Sankranti’, which is the main festival, and the third day is called ‘Kanuma’,” he says.

“On the main festival day, people in Telangana wear new clothes and eat freshly cooked rice and sweets, whereas on ‘Kanuma’, people from various parts eat chicken,” he adds.

It’s a big bonanza for foodies, as they get to gorge on so many delicacies, both for the vegetarians and the non-vegetarians. Many people get new replacements for the old household items. Some people burn the old things too. This signifies a course of change in their lives.

The intensity, with which the festival is celebrated not just in Telangana, but in other parts of the country as well, is breathtaking. In Punjab, people sing, dance and perform plays around the bonfires.

Playful kite contests and feral cock fighting competitions mark the festivities in Andhra Pradesh. Young girls make rangolis, called muggu in Telugu, in and outside their houses and people spend the day with their family and friends.

People of Telangana perform a felicitous practice with Indian jujubes or Regipandlu, which is called Bhogi Pandlu. The elders of the family shower the Regipandlu on all the kids of the family.

“Regipandlu is a seasonal fruit and the tradition holds a lot of significance in our families. This is done to bless the children and to drive away all the evil entities and energies away from them,” says Ramana Reddy.

A unique element of Makar Sankranti is the Gangireddu, wherein the bulls are decorated with old clothes and saris and the men take them from house to house to collect gifts or money. “The bull visiting our houses is considered very auspicious,” explains Ramana Reddy.

Another very important part of Makar Sankranti are Nuvvulu (sesame seeds), Nuvvululaddoos and delicacies which are prepared not just in Telangana, but in other parts of the country as well. Some people also put a few sesame seeds in their bath water, as it is considered very auspicious.

Even though the main attraction of Sankranti is flying kites and the delicious Nuvvulu sweets, there is so much more to look forward to on that day!