Cheerful Readiness: Sankranthi Muggulu 6

SANKRANTHI SUBHAKANKSHALU

Sankranthi festival is one of the important festivals of India. It is called by different names in different parts of the country and neighbouring countries. But one thing that is common is its closeness to nature, greenery and the agricultural sector. It is the festival signifies abundance, auspiciousness and sign of the wellbeing in the coming months.

In Norh India,
Himachal Pradesh, Punjab -Lohri

In East India,
Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa -Bhogali Bihu, Makara Samkranthi

In Western India,
Gujarath and rajasthan - Uttarayan(Kite flying festival)
Maharashtra - sankranti

In South India,
In Andhra Pradesh- Sankranti - సంక్రాంతి
In Tamilnadu - Pongal
In Karnataka - Sankranthi
In Kerala - Makara Vilakku Festival in Sabarimala Temple
Other parts of India as Makara Sankranti

In Nepal,
Tharu people - Maghi
Other people - Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati
In Thailand - Songkran
In Laos - Pi Ma Lao
In Myanmar - Thingyan

In South india,
The celebrations take place for 5 days starting with,

Bhogi, Sankranti, Kanuma ,Mattukanuma, Yeedadhi Panduga in Andhra Pradesh .

But we are following it for 3 days in the modern ages .

On Bhogi day,

The houses are cleaned and the waste materials and unwanted stuff is put to fire .It is an occasion to clean the entire house and welcome the new grains into the granary.

Little children have a festivity of "Bhogi pallu", wherein all the elders ,friends, relatives and neighbours pour the "a mixture regi fruits,

flowers, sugercane pieces, coins" and bless the kids.

Sankranti:

The next day the grand day with everyone cooking the "Pongal" with the new rice and perform pooja to the gods and goddesses. Muggulu are the highlight. Boys fly kites . There is also a tradition of bullock cart races, cock fights(kodi pandaalu).

Other significant features of the festival are, Bommala Koluvu, Hari Dasu Keerthanalu,

Gangiredhulavallu, Teppa Thiranaala (The village gods "Utsava Moortulu " are taken in a decorated boat with flowers, lights in the local village river for darshan of all public.), local festival santha or jaatara is also seen in many villages.

Special sweets like Arisalu, Chekkalu, Chakraalu, Sajja Boorelu, Gaarelu, are made with the new produce from the fields.

Kanuma:

The third day is the festival of Kanuma. On this day the bullocks are decorated and pooja is performed to the cows, bullocks and all animals who aid the farmer in his tasks.

The speciality of the Muggu is the "Ratham Muggu". ( More on ratham Muggu in my next post)

The designs are all draw innovatively by the women of various districts in Andhra Pradesh, which are published in daily in the Dhanurmasam by telugu newpaper ANDHRA JYOTHI.
Our thanks to the newspaper management for encouraging the art of Rangoli/Muggulu and making it accessible through the print and elctronic media via internet.