“In villages, we never celebrate festivals alone. Sankranti is celebrated all over India for three days which includes Bhogi, Sankranti, and Kanuma. On this auspicious day, we invite our relatives home and spend some quality time together with a lot of fun and excitement. It is the best time to taste the mouth-watering Sankranti special recipes like
ariselu,
chekkalu etc.

But, do we really know why we celebrate Sankranti for three days?

The first day, we respect the environment in the name of Bhogi by lighting the bonfire with sticks of Peepal and other herbal trees, which will protect us from different viruses that lead to ill health.

The second day, we celebrate the sun who is making his northward journey which is called Uttarayana and steps into Makara Rasi, hence the name Makar Sankranti. Today is a rejoicing moment for farmers, as they are at the early stages of the agricultural season where crops are being sown.

The third day, we pay homage to cattle and trees in the name of Kanuma. As per our Hyndava dharma, cows and bulls which are a part of the agrarian economy are cleaned, decorated and worshipped on this day.

It’s heartening to see many parents in the cities not educating their children about our traditions and culture. The initiative should be from them otherwise, the future generation won’t be aware of simple terms like Gobbemmalu [Made from cow dung], Muggulu [Rangoli] and colorful Gangireddulu [Decorated Bulls] during Sankranti season. I’m just waiting for the day to see all the families and their relatives celebrating the festivals collectively.”

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