Bhogi celebrated with fervour as Sankranti festivities begin across Andhra

Vijayawada: Bhogi, the first day of the 3-day Sankranti festival, was celebrated with great fervour and on a grand scale across Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, marking the traditional beginning of the harvest festivities. From bustling cities to remote villages, people woke up before dawn, took ritual baths, and gathered outside their homes to light Bhogi bonfires, symbolising the discarding of the old and the welcoming of prosperity, renewal, and new beginnings.Across the State, front yards and street corners glowed with bonfires made of cow-dung cakes. Families, young and old, were seen singing, dancing, and exchanging festive greetings. Many households followed the age-old belief of burning old and unused items in the Bhogi fire. "Bhogi teaches us to leave behind the past and start fresh," said Lakshmi, a resident of Eluru, as children played around the bonfire in her neighbourhood. The celebrations were enriched by folk traditions such as Haridasu songs, Gangireddu dances, and rhythmic percussion performances that echoed through villages and towns.One of the major highlights this year came from the Konaseema region, where a massive Bhogi garland attracted widespread attention. In Rangapuram village of Amalapuram mandal, villagers created a gigantic 1,000-foot-long Bhogi garland using nearly 20,000 cow-dung cakes. "We made these garlands for 6 years to showcase Telugu culture. Each year, we try to make it bigger," said a villager involved in the effort, which took nearly 20 days to complete.In Vijayawada, Bhogi was celebrated with special fervour at the Kanaka Durga temple. Temple authorities arranged a colourful Bommala Koluvu (court of toys) as part of the annual Sankranti festivities. Grand celebrations were also held at the Venkamma Perantalu temple located at Ramavarappadu, where thousands of devotees gathered, leading to traffic congestion on National Highway-16.As part of the celebrations, special events such as the pouring of Bhogi Pallu (Indian jujube fruits) on children below the age of 10 were organised in several localities. Special pujas were performed at Lord Vishnu temples, along with elaborate arrangements for Goda Kalyanam, adding a strong devotional touch to the festive spirit across the State.