“Growing up in Dhavaleswaram, Sankranti was one such festival, the whole village would collectively look forward to. The environment in the village would instantly get enveloped with nothing but sheer joy and happiness.
The festivities of Sankranthi start a month in advance here. The entire community takes part in all the festive activities. No one feels alone or left out. We draw “Muggulu” (rangoli) with five “gobbillu” (cow dung). They’re slapped on the wall to dry (pidakalu). We organise “Sandhi gobbemma” in the evening at a different house each day. The gobbillu are treated as Gauri Devi and worhsipped with turmeric, saffron and flowers(they’re used to boil milk on the day of “ratha sapthami”). We sing “gobbemma” songs and dance around it.

On the day of Bhogi, we shower with soap nuts (kunkudukai) before sunrise after applying sesame oil and Sunni Pindi. We wear the “pidakalu” as a garland and throw it into the Bhogi fire (considered good for health, unlike tires and garbage dumped nowadays). We circle around the fire (pradakshina) and apply the ash as “bottu”.
“Gulla sunnam” is used to paint houses each year during this festival. It keeps away pests, insects and diseases. Nowadays, painting the house costs a lot and also using insecticides is harmful to our health.
Elders bless us by showering us with Indian plums (rekkayalu), flowers, chana, and coins. They are given a “thamboolam”(betel leaf, fruits, chana and coins) in return.
We prepare food in bulk using “Nava dhanyalu”(nine new grains of the new harvest) which last us for months – “Ariselu” with rice and sesame, “sunnaundalu” with black gram, “chekka vadalu” with rice, etc.
We donate rice, vegetables and fruits to the “Haridasu” who sing and visit our house each day. We cover the “Gangireddhu” with old blankets, and the man accompanying it, playing “sannai” make it dance and bless us.
We call all our relatives home and organise feasts. The sons-in-law are usually gifted a watch, a ring, or a bicycle, back then.
At the end, it’s all about coming together and sharing joy with each other. It is a simple way of thanking our soil for keeping our stomachs full the whole year.”

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