Visakhapatnam: Sankranti fervour has gripped the City of Destiny with Vizagites getting involved in a variety of celebrations organised across the city to mark the onset of ‘Pedda Panduga” (big festival).
Sankranti holds a special place among Hindu festivals for Telugus with celebrations lasting three days. Bhogi is celebrated on the first day, Sankranti on the second and is followed by Kanuma on the third day which provides a grand finale for the celebrations with non-vegetarian dishes and booze lovers consuming liquor.
As most of the schools are having a three-day vacation, the festival is celebrated early and city kids can get a glimpse of traditional Sankranti celebrations in the country side like Gobbemalu, Gangireddu and Burra Kathalu.
The schools presented a colourful site across the city with tiny tots dressed in traditional dresses performing group dances to folk songs. Girls wearing half saris taking part in Rangoli competitions was a common sight in the city’s colleges.
How can one not talk of Kite flying when it comes to Sankranti. Many places in the city witnessed kite flying festivals. Adults and kids took part in them in high spirits and shouts of “cut”and “dheel” echoed in the air. Some of the kite flying enthusiasts were seen flying gliders imported from Malaysia costing around Rs 5,000.
P.S. Krihnamachary, a sexagenarian says, “I find Sankranti celebrations now a superficial affair. When we were kids we used to start collecting thorn bushes a month before Bhogi, dry them in the sun and then burn them on the day. Even preparation of delicacies like Ariselu and Kajjikayalu a few days before Sankranti, was a family affair.”
