Three-day Sankranti celebrations kick off in Guntur district

Guntur: Bhogi festival was celebrated in a traditional manner across the district on Tuesday. Since early morning bonfires were seen at important centres in the district.

The people boiled the water on bonfires to use the same for taking bath after applying oil all over their bodies. They celebrated the Bhogi festival with their family members and relatives. The youth indulged in kite flying on this occasion.

The Guntur Municipal Corporation conducted Sankranti Sambaralu on the premises of NTR Municipal Corporation Stadium in Guntur city to carry forward our traditions and culture.

District Collector and GMC special officer I Samuel Anand Kumar and GMC Commissioner Challa Anuradha celebrated Sankranthi Sambaralu in the Stadium. They lit the traditional bonfire marking the inauguration of Sankrati Sambaralu. They spent some time watching the bull dances, The Sankranti Haridas sang devotional songs on the occassion. Later, he played bongaralu, goolieelu, and he flown kites. All the district officials wore traditional dhotis on the occasion.

They recalled their childhood days. Later, they poured Bhogi Pallu or fruits over the heads of children and explained the significance of the Bhogi festival. Samuel Anand Kumar, Challa Anuradha and the district officials showered their blessings on the children.

NTR Stadium was already decorated for Sankranti Sambaralu.

The District Collector said that he was very happy as all the officials wore traditional dresses to participate in the programme. He conveyed his greetings and wished that farmers would get a good yield and better price in the coming season also.

Guntur Municipal Corporation commissioner Challa Anuradha said that they would conduct Sankranti Sambaralu for three days from Tuesday onwards. She urged the people to participate in the programme to make it a grand success.

Meanwhile, girls and women, decorated their houses with mamidi thoranas and set up Gobbemmas. They performed pujas to Gobbemmas. In the rural areas, pujas were performed to cows.

They set up the 'Bommalakoluvu' and celebrated Bhogi function in the house. They poured bhogipallu on their children. The women blessed the children. Later, they distributed thambulam and fruits to the women. Haridasulu visited door-to-door. The women prepared arisa, laddus, janthikalu for the festival. In the apartments, families celebrated Bhogi festival.