Bonfire, Bhogipandlu mark Bhogi fete

Visakhapatnam: Sankranti festivities began on Friday with Bhogi bonfire with positivism of discarding old articles.

Housewives decorated their entrances with colourful rangolis and placed ‘gobbemmalu’ (small cow dung balls decorated with flowers). The joy of tiny-tots knew no bounds as a variety of sweets and savouries were lined up for them to feast.

A mixture of bears (‘regipandlu’), bengalgram, flower petals and slices of sugarcane and coins were showered on the heads of children to protect them from evil eye.

Sri Gayatri Welfare and Cultural Youth Academy organised the mass programme of showering ‘Bhogipandlu’ on kids in association with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) at the Nature Cure Hospital in the city.

Senior Civil Judge and the Secretary of DLSA R V Nagasundar, who participated in the programme, said that the ‘bhogipandlu’ is a traditional event to be performed for little children.

Andhra Medical College principal Dr T Radha said the event gives an extra strength, pleasure and encouragement to the children on the Bhogi day. The entire area was decorated with colourful rangolis.

Freedom fighter R Visalakhi and Dr Sri Lakshmi also blessed the children. President of Sri Gayatri Welfare and Cultural Youth Academy R Ravi Kumar, Dr Lakshminarayana, Dr G V Reddy, Dr Nirmala and academy members Mahesh, Nagamani, Srihari, Ramana, Vamsi and Sudhakar were also present. More than 100 children attended the mass ‘bhogipandlu’ programme.