“Sankranthi is an important festival for us. Every year we come together in the village and celebrate it as one big family. On the day of Bhogi, there’s a tradition where the daughters of the house make colorful rangolis, place gobbema and light fire around it. There are two reasons we celebrate Bhogi, one is to the mark new beginnings with fresh crop harvest coming home and the second is to keep us warm during the cold waves. It symbolizes burning the evil cold feeling in our hearts to spread the spirit of festivity, love and warmth.

In the evening we make all the children sit down and carry on ‘Bhogi Pallu’, where tiny jujubes are poured over the heads of the tiny tots and the elders bless them. This is believed to ward off the evil eye and help them stay strong and healthy.

Sankranthi is also celebrated with the same fervor and we make Payasam together as a family to symbolize our unity and happiness. In the evening we have a small Kolattam night where all our kith and kin join us in the celebrations. The next day we sit around and catch up in leisure as we pack our bags. We make memories to cherish until we return to the village the following year to celebrate the festival again.

Festivals are not celebrated without a purpose. They act as an opportunity to pause, reflect and find better versions of ourselves. And what better place, time or company than with family, during festivities? After all, they’re the most important people in our world!”

#HappySankranthi2020 #Bhogi2020 #Pongal2020 #Sankranthi2020 #Tradition #Family #Celebration #Festive #Pongal #Kites #Happiness #Culture #Family #Andhra #HumansofAndhra