YO VIZAG ARTICLE ON SANKRANTI

The following is the extract from the article on Sankranti Festival published by YO-Vizag magazine in January 09 issue
SANKRANTI
For Hindus SUN is the manifest of God blessing and benefitting one and all without any break. Makara Sankranti marks the beginning of ascendency and entry of Sun into Northern Hemisphere and the commencement of holy Uttarayana time. It is a national festival lasting four days. For the people of Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti is the mega annual festival and is fondly called as Pedda Panduga meaning the “the big festival’

One month preceding Sankranti is called Dhanurmasam and is also an auspicious period. People wake up early, take bath and go around the streets singing devotional songs. Houses are whitewashed and farmers clean their warehouses. Colorful rangoli (muggulu) are drawn in the front yards of every house during this month. These artistic floral designs are drawn on the floor with rice flour or fine powder from limestone. These patterns are decorated with marigold placed on cowdung balls. Colorfully dressed young girls go round them singing songs. The Hari Dasus singing mellifluously devotional songs on lord Vishnu in the early morning create the right mood for the festivities.
It is on the Makara Sankranti day that Lord Vishnu crushed the evil Asuras and hence marks victory of good over evil. It is also the day on which Bhishma Pitamaha (Mahabharata) chose to leave this mortal world.Makara Sankranti day according to Hindu legend marks the visit of Sun God to the house of Shani for a month long visit. This day signifies the relationship between father and son. Sankranti day marks the start of the day of devatas and hence considered most auspicious and is also called Devayana.
It is the prominent harvest festival with the houses of farmers full with farm produce and cash in the hands of every farmer. Son in laws come to the homes along with their wives and children and are treated like royalty with gifts of new clothes, elaborate meals, visits to fairs.
First day of Sankranti festival is celebrated as Bhogi. On this day in the early morning a honfire is lit before each house and people gather around the bonfires enjoying the warmth during the winter season. The ladies and girls in every house vie with each other in drawing artistic designs with the help of rice flour of various hues and colors during the 4 day long festival before their houses. Many competitions too are held to judge the best Muggu or design.
On the Sankranti day people wear new clothes, pray Sun God with all devotion, eat sumptuous meals, visit fairs with enjoyment and happiness all round.
Third day of the festivities are called ‘kanuma’. As part of the festival, cows and bulls are given a wash and the horns are painted with bright colours and decorated with garland, and are taken in a procession in the village to the accompaniment of pipes and drums. The animals are worshipped as a mark of their help year long. On this day animal races are held and the best animals are judged.
Sankranti is a true festival time for everybody spreading cheer, happiness and joy.