* People geared to celebrate festival of kites today

A festive mood prevails in the State, with three day festival Makar Sankranti. The celebrations are observed in almost every village, with adventurous games. The so called traditions continue to play a major role in the festival, whether it is the cock fights or Bull races. People in rural Andhra look forward, to this harvest festival which has diverse attractions for different people.

The festival is celebrated every year with millions of people, flying kites all over India. Lets have a report ! Sankranti or Pongal is the famous harvest festival of South India. Spread over 3 days - Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanumu - the festivities mark Sun's northward journey called Uttarayanam'. It was said that, The day-duration increases and the night gets shorter from the day of Sankranti.

It is the harbinger of more light and sunshine in life and lessening of its darker aspects. Pongal or Sankranti in the south marks the end of the southeast monsoons as also the reaping of the harvest. 1401-043 The first day Bhogi celebrations were observed on grand scale, in various places on Friday. Usually on this day, the youngsters collect dry twigs, grass, waste paper, make a heap & light a bonfire.

Sankranti is one of the most auspicious festivals for Hindus. There are many attractive features related to the fete. The attractive feature of festival is Gobbemmalu, wherein young girls make round balls of cow dung that are decorated with vermilion, turmeric and flowers. These are placed in the middle of the bright Rangolis in the front yards.

Another attraction comes with Gangireddu. 1401-037 Gangireddu is a sacred bull, which is decorated with beautiful clothes and ringing bells. Later comes Haridasus. Haridasulu are the people of a cast, who are dedicated to receive charities from other people. 1101-060 Haridasu makes gangireddu to dance. The scene clearly depicts bulls obedience to his master.

Haridasu sings songs and gangireddu dances according to his masters song. Sporting a dhoti and a Tanpura in hand, the Haridasus go around houses singing and dancing and collecting grains and alms, adding to the colour and vibrancy of the festival. The festive spirit has geared up across the state. Especially, We can see gaiety & fervor in the villages.

The masses continue to enjoy patronage in the land, despite fast changing times. The earthen ground had filled with Colorful Rangolis. Bull dances, Haridasus, Cock fights witnessed in various places in coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema & Telangana. Sankranti is a season that brings to mind the colorful tradition of kite flying festivals, in various states of the country.

The festival is celebrated every year with millions of people flying kites all over India. Multicolored kites dotted the skies on Friday, as kids cheered and clapped, in handfuls in celebration of the harvest festival, of Makar Sankranti in the State Capital. The festival draws expert kite-makers and flyers not only from cities of India but also from around the world.

One of the most famous ritual and festival at Sabarimala, the Makara Jyothi festival is observed on the first day of the Malayalam month Makaram. Makara Jyothi is the star that appears on the sky on the day in the evening of January 14. The main worshipping ritual has been performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi on Friday. In 2010, it is believed that the crowd has touched 1.5 million to witness the Holy Sight.

Published Date : Saturday, 15/1/2011 1:35 PM IST