As the harvest season begins, members of the Gangireddu community start their annual journey through villages and towns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, marking the harvest season of Sankranti. From the beginning of Dhanurmasam till Kanuma, members travel together, temporarily stepping away from their regular agricultural work.
“For most of the year, we depend on farming,” says a performer. “Some of us cultivate small landholdings, others work as farm labourers. This season is when we move together.”
At each house, the Gangireddu is decorated with turmeric, painted horns and flower garlands. Performers sing folk songs rooted in agrarian life about crops, rainfall, cattle and household well-being. As part of the ritual, the bull bends its head at the doorstep, a gesture villagers associate with prosperity. In return, households offer rice, grains, vegetables or small amounts of money.
“There is no fixed amount,” says another member. “People give according to their choice and their harvest situation that year.”
Earnings collected during the day are pooled in the evening. Food for the cattle, bulls, cows and buffaloes, is separated first, and the remaining amount is shared equally among households. “This helps us manage expenses for some months,” an elder explains, “but it does not replace our regular income.”
Kanuma is observed as a day dedicated to cattle. The animals are bathed, turmeric is applied and sweet pongal prepared from the new crop is fed to them. “These animals work with us in the fields throughout the year,” says a farmer from the group. “Kanuma is meant for them.”
After Kanuma, members return to farming routines. Many continue as agricultural labourers during sowing, weeding and harvest seasons. During lean periods, some take up construction or daily-wage work. The cattle are often sent back to farmers for ploughing or kept in sheds until the next season.
During Sankranti, performers often meet Haridasulu, who travel through the same villages singing Vishnu keertanalu alongside members of the Gangireddu community. “The paths are the same, even if the traditions are different,” a performer notes.
Despite uncertain returns, the practice of walking with the Gangireddu, honouring cattle on Kanuma, and singing folk songs through the streets continues. The families hope for government support to preserve this tradition and provide cultural opportunities so their communities can sustain it.