Makara Sankranti, Milad-un-Nabi celebrated in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Harvest festival Makar Sankranti and Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, was on Tuesday celebrated across Andhra Pradesh.

Thousands of Muslims participated in processions in the Old City and other parts of Hyderabad as part of Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Devotees attended noon prayers at Mecca Masjid near historic Charminar and other mosques in the Old City. (Scroll down for pictures)

Confusion prevailed in the state over the exact date of the main Sankranti/Pongal festival. While some calenders mentioned the main festival on January 14, others indicated it on January 15.

The calendar brought out by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has given January 15 as the date for the winter festival.

Reports in different parts of the state indicated that people are going to celebrate the main festival on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees thronged to East and West Godavari districts to take a holy dip in river Godavari.

As part of the festivities, people lit bonfires on the streets with agricultural and household waste to mark 'Bhogi', the first day of the three-day harvest festival.

Streets were colourfully decorated with rangolis while houses were adorned with mango leaves and flowers. Young and old alike enjoyed kite flying.

Meanwhile, 'cockfighting’, a major rural attraction, was organised in parts of coastal Andhra like West Godavari, East Godavari and Krishna districts. Cockfighting, an old tradition, has of late become a game of betting involving big money. Authorities have taken steps to curb betting on cockfights.