Story on Makara Sankranthi from Kadapa

January 10 Skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, poor crops, coupled with ban of big denominations dampened the spirit of people to celebrate Makara Sankranthi  in a big way in the district. 

Particularly this kind of scenario is witnessing in the rural areas following bad harvest, owning mainly to drought and insufficient rains has also added to the woes of the farmers. The pitiful condition in rural areas where the farmers yet to reap their crop, due to late sowing in the current Rabi took much of the sheen of the major festival of Telugus. This year government has declared all 51 mandals in the district as drought. 

Normally paddy harvest would be over by December keeping the farmers in a jubilant mood, which naturally see them celebrating the Sankranthi with enthusiasm.  But recent years situation turned unfavorable due to lack of proper rains in both Kharief and Rabi seasons which forced the farmers curtailing their crop area.

“We are in no mood to celebrate the Sankranthi this year, as there was no profits in cultivation. The rain God also was not kind enough for us” said Pamidakula Venkatasubbaiah a farmer in Vempalle mandal.

The failure of crops had chain effect, influencing various business like textiles, essential commodities , the sale of which drastically for the festival this year. “We had just Rs 10  lakhs business in 100 general merchant shops this time against Rs 30lkhs lakhs business in the earlier said Amara Subba Rao of YV street in Kadapa town told. 

This was evident with the business coming down in Produturu cloth market which is having about 200 shops engaged in retail and wholesale textiles.  This year business in the cloth market was just 30 lakhs against as against 70lakhs in the previous year according to the sources.

Bayya Prasad owner of cloth shop in the Proddaturu Vastra market  market said he had not seen such a poor business in his 20 years of trade experience.  However the festive mood witnessed better in urban areas comparatively with villages as the people seen thronging to the temples wearing traditional dresses during the Dhanurmasam which is most auspicious month for Lord Vishnu.