spicy hut: SANKRANTHI CELEBRATIONS…..

Hi…

Wish you a very happy sankranthi…

Many of us dont know the celebrations of sankranthi…..Mainly city brought up ones may have fewer knowledge of this festival…Today i want to share

this festival events and traditional as much as i know…hope u wll enjy it…since i belong to Andra pradesh..i will giv u the detail description about the way of celebration of this festival ..SANKRANTHI..

This festival is celebrated in andrs for 4 days mainly… BHOGI

SANKRANTHI

KANUMA

MUKKANUMA..

The transition of the Sun from ‘Dhanu’ Rasi (Sagittarius) to ‘Makara’ Rasi (Capricorn) marks the starting of Uttarayana which means the northern movement of Sun. The festival takes place when the sun moves from Dakshanayanam to Uttaryanam .

Sankranti is a national festival in India.

North India: Festival known as Makar Sankranti
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka: Festival known as Sankranthi
Tamil Nadu: Festival known as Pongal
Punjab: Festival known as Lohri & Maghi

Sankranthi day marks the arrival in the farmers' houses of the grains that are the fruit of their labors. Sankranthi is a holy festival for a worldly achievement. It is also a cherished day of rest in the cool atmosphere.

Some of colorful and joyful events of this festival are keeping Muggulu ( Rangoli) , Gangiredhulu (scared bull) , hari dasu coming home with singing..

All the above said events starts even 10 to 15 days before the festival arrives…indicating us that the festival is coming…

MUGGULU (Rangoli):

The area in front of the house is neatly cleaned n wetted with cow dung mixed water. when the land become half dry..women n young ladies start decorating the area with rangoli called as MUGGULU. It is kept with white color power which is taken from stone or with rice flour. young girls will be very enthusiastic to keep this muggulu..they will practice all large and tipical designs to decorate in front of their homes…since every house front decorated with this rangoli…there will a king of race between this muggulu…girls will b energetic and active to keep a larger and a tipical n also a wonderful rangoli than their neighbors..some even decorate these muggulu with colors and flowers..as it is the season for marigold flowers…girls will decorate their muggulu with the petals of the marigold flowers.People also make garland with this marigold flowers and decorate it to the main door of their houses.

The main Attraction of this muggulu in SANKRANTHI time is GOBBEMMALU( cow dung balls). This Gobbemmalu are cow dung balls which are kept on Muggu (Rangoli), which is designed to invite prosperity and bliss into the house. Gobbemmalu are decorated with pasupu (turmeric powder), Kumkuma (red vermion powder) and with several grain types. They are also decorated with flowers (garlands).

Young girls decorate themselves with ornaments and new dress..preferably ( langa voni) half saree ( pattu langa) full skirt .. they will gather and dance around these gobbemmalu along with singing.Here i am keeping a featured video like that…u can c how they dance.

GANGIREDDU(holy bull)

Gangireddu is a sacred bull, which is decorated with beautiful clothes and ringing bells.The person who takes round the decorated bull is called gangireddudasu. He wears a special dress on this occasion. The very sight of gangireddudasu fascinates children. They are the people of a caste who are dedicated to receive charities from other people.

Gangireddudasu makes gangireddu (bull) to dance. The scene clearly depicts bull’s obedience to his master. Gangireddudasu sings songs and gangireddu dances according to his master’s song.

Here is the featured video of Gangireddu.

HARI DASU:

`Haridasulu' in their colourful attire were a feast for the eyes during Pongal. This is another tradition, which has almost disappeared from cities and urban areas. Thankfully, they are still patronised and honoured in the rural areas. The Haridasulu carry a copper vessel, made in the form of a pumpkin, on their head. They carry `chidathalu' (cymbals) in one hand and a tambura in the other and go from house to house singing, "Harilo Ranga Hari'', and the glory of Lord Mahavishnu.

The Haridasulu tie anklets to their feet and apply `Namams' (markings with sandalwood paste) on their forehead. They have to wear only saffron clothes during the auspicious month (Dhanurmasam). It is believed that the Haridasulu are a replica of sage Narada, a devotee of Mahavishnu, who comes to bless his devotees. The people wash his feet, pay their obeisance and seek his blessings. The Haridasulu take rice from the vessel and sprinkle them on devotees to bless them. It is believed that the Haridasulu should never be turned away without giving any alms. They accept rice, money, vegetables and other offerings.

1st day BOGHI :

BOGHI day is the first day of the sankranthi festival.A ritual observed today is ‘bhogi mantalu’ (BON FIRE) when useless household things and old clothes are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow dung cakes. Youngsters sing and dance around the bonfire.

The significance of the bonfire , in which is burnt the agricultural wastes and firewood is to keep warm during the last lap of winter whole family keep oil to to body n take bath.Then pray GOD by doing puja n all..later guys will b busy in flying kites n girls in dancing roung the gobbemmalu.

There is a special making even in the food.Sunnudalu (urad dhal laddu)is the food item that is taken on bhogi day after praying god.

At the lunch time instead of normal rice PULAGAM / ATHESARA is made . It is taken with the the combination of PACHIPULUSU (raw rasam)

First spoon of the pulagam should be taken with jagree n ghee..later with pachipulusu n what ever u like.

“Bhogi Pandlu” is a special ritual to be performed on the evening of Bhogi day. On Bhogi, the children are dressed up with new dresses. They are given Aarti and Bhogi Pandlu (Bhogi Pallu – a special mixture of gooseberries, food material, sugarcane and rice) are showered on the heads of children to protect them from the evil forces.

2nd day SANKRANTHI : PEDDA PANDUGA ( main festival)

On this day also the Puja and all will be performed n differnt kind of sweets re made n offered to god as naivedyam..

ARISALU is the traditional sweet item that is made for this sankranthi festival..

This Arisalu are taken with MUDHAPAPPU and GHEE.

the whole sankranthi festival is be shown roughly in this video.

In the evening BOMMALA KOLUVU is arranged .

3rd day KANUMA:

govardhan

Kanuma is the third day of the festival, Sankranti. According to Hindu mythology, on this day Lord Sri Krsihna lifted the Govardhana Hill (Govardhana Giri – Govardhana Giridhari is one of Krishna’s names).

Once Lord Indra, with his headstrong poured a heavy rain on Gokulam (Sri Krishna’s place). People of Gokulam prayed to Krishna to save them from the cyclone. At that time Sri Krishna was just about 10 years. But without any fear, the Lord lifted the hill with his small finger.

Thus Indra realized that Sri Krishna is non other than Lord Sri Maha Vishnu and bowed on the Lord’s his feet.

This day, the cows and buffaloes are worshipped and thanked for ploughing the fields and contributing to the harvest. A famous saying goes.. ‘ no meat should be eaten this day’ it’s a respect we are giving our animal friends!! And people make and eat ‘ GARELU’!

4th day and the final day MUKKANUMA:

Mukkanuma is the final day of Sankranti celebrations. On this day people arrange huge feasts, invite friends and relatives. In some places, on Mukkanuma bullock cart races and cock fightings are held. Mukkanuma is the final day of Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka.