It's been a month of strife and intolerance in the state, and it refuses to go away in a hurry, but for a day that was all forgotten in Andhra Pradesh's big festival
It's been a month of strife and intolerance in the state, and it refuses to go away in a hurry, but for a day that was all forgotten in Andhra Pradesh's big festival, Sankranti.
Both Telangana and Andhra/Seema regions celebrated the festival in a big way today, with gobbemmalu (mounds made with cow dung that are worshipped), muggulu (rangoli), kites, prayers and good food, bringing back memories of a time when people had a lot more time and a lot more fun with tradition.
In the city, the kite festival at the Polo Grounds saw the venue being thronged by people of all ages, and studded with some celebs as well. The RSS branch of Sanathnagar organized special festivities, wishes of Happy Pongal rent the air all over, and and people thronged the cinemas with big releases featuring the likes of Venkatesh, Ravi Teja and NTR Junior hitting the box office.
Festivities also made a mark in Chandragiri and Gangavaram of Chittoor district, Kothapet of East Godavari (where crackers sparkled the sky along with the uniquitous kites), and all the Andhra regions that associate much more strongly with the festival. However, what was surprising was the vigour with which the festival was celebrated in Telangana districts - Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and all the rest of the region.
Karimnagar saw the local cops celebrate with the kids, and rangoli competitions. Aromas of the choicest dishes rent the airs in Adilabad, rangoli and gobbemmalu were omnipresent in Nizamabad, and in Mahabubnagar, bullock carts and tractors went in a procession to the Hanuman Temple on the outskirts.
Tomorrow, of course, is another day.