Hyderabad: Residents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are gearing up for the Sankranti festivities to be celebrated on a grand scale for three days from Wednesday.
An estimated four lakh people have left Hyderabad for different destinations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to celebrate the harvest festival at their native places.
Trains, the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses and private buses ran choc-a-bloc due to the heavy rush of passengers. Special services being run by the South Central Railway (SCR) and the APSRTC were also full to the brim.
Authorities on Tuesday clamped down on private bus operators at several places in Andhra Pradesh who allegedly charged exorbitant fares from passengers in view of the heavy demand.
Sankranti is a major festival in Andhra Pradesh. The first day of the festival is 'Bhogi', an event when massive bonfires are lit before sunrise outside the homes. Children and elders alike take head bath with 'kunkudukai' (soap nut). In the evening, 'Regi pallu (small berries) and coins are poured on children to protect them from evil eye.
The second and the main day of the festival is Makar Sankranti which marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Milk, rice mixed with jaggery is cooked and offered to the Sun god on the day. A large number of toys, mainly made of wood, are tastefully arranged (known as 'bommala koluvu') and women folk gather in the evening in an event called 'perantalu'.
The third day is known as 'Kanuma' when cattle are worshipped and workers used to be given money and new clothes in the old days.
A traditional sport of cock fights are held in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh as part of Sankranti festivities, but the rural sport has acquired a new dimension in recent years.
An estimated four lakh people have left Hyderabad for different destinations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to celebrate the harvest festival at their native places.
Trains, the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses and private buses ran choc-a-bloc due to the heavy rush of passengers. Special services being run by the South Central Railway (SCR) and the APSRTC were also full to the brim.
Sankranti is a major festival in Andhra Pradesh. The first day of the festival is 'Bhogi', an event when massive bonfires are lit before sunrise outside the homes. Children and elders alike take head bath with 'kunkudukai' (soap nut). In the evening, 'Regi pallu (small berries) and coins are poured on children to protect them from evil eye.
Advertisement
The third day is known as 'Kanuma' when cattle are worshipped and workers used to be given money and new clothes in the old days.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Bus Conductor Misbehaves With Woman Passenger In Telangana, Taken Into Police Custody 12-Year-Old Girl Among 3 Drown At Quarry Pit In Telangana: Cops The 'Fake' CrowdStrike Worker Who Crippled Windows Users Worldwide Pistol That Puja Khedkar's Mother Waved At Farmers In Viral Video Seized 500 Para Commandos To Hunt Pakistani Terrorists In Jammu After Attacks Movie Tickets, OTT Subscriptions To Get Costlier As Karnataka Plans 2% Cess Delhi Lt Governor vs AAP Over Arvind Kejriwal's Blood Sugar Levels Study Abroad: Top 10 Management Universities In United States Of America Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.