Warangal/Karimnagar: The three-day Sankranti festivities began on a colourful note with religious fervour not only in villages but also in towns and cities by all sections of people here in the erstwhile Warangal and Karimnagar districts.
Since early morning women drew beautiful rangolis and kept gobbemmalu between them. Gobbemmalu are made in a pyramid shape using cow dung which are decorated with turmeric powder (pasupu), vermilion powder (kunkuma), flowers and with different types of grains.
The elderly people set a ritualistic bonfire to drive away the negativities and usher in the spring. Children took bath with bhogi pallu (a ritual followed to bless kids).
With Haridasulu singing devotional songs and gangireddulu revering and dancing to the tunes, distribution of sweets and wearing new clothes, people gathered in large numbers in city colonies and villages.
Since the government announced a three-day holiday, several educational institutions and government offices, along with some private organisations, will remain closed. The employees and students along with their families were seen going to their native places.
Bus stands and railway stations witnessed heavy rush with passengers since Friday night and continued until Sunday morning. Shops selling kite of all shapes and sizes dotted various areas of the city.
