Artistes, known as Haridasulu, performing during the Sankranti celebrations at Kanuru in Vijayawada on Monday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. Rao
A festive atmosphere is prevailing in villages as people began returning to their native towns for Sankranti.
Children joined their parents in cleaning and decorating their homes, with colourful ‘muggulu’ (rangolis) adorning the front yards.
Farmers, who brought their produce home, are gearing up to offer prayers for good rains and bumper crop next year. They decorated their houses and bullocks and carts for the harvest festival, and will perform Bhumi puja at the fields on the day of Bhogi.
Kites dotted the skies, even as children started preparations for ‘Bommarillu’ (a display of a toy house) depicting lush green fields and farmers harvesting the paddy and storing it in godowns.
Haridasulu and Gangireddula Melalu began making rounds of localities, and offering blessings to newlywed couples in villages.
“Haridasu, who comes during Sankranti, blessed our family members. But this year, Haridasu was seen accepting alms through PhonePay!” exclaimed Katta Uma Devi, a resident of Baggeswaram village in West Godavari district on Sunday.
Community elders conducted traditional games and sports for the youth.
Sweet stalls, fruit and flower vendors are reporting brisk sales as the festivities picked up pace with the beginning of the weekend.
“My son and daughter-in-law have come home for Sankranti. There is a joyous atmosphere in our village with many families organising get-togethers and family parties,” says a farmer Kosuru Venkateswara Rao of Mudinepalli in Eluru district.
Published – January 12, 2025 08:34 pm IST