Kanuma

On Kanuma, cattle and cattle sheds are cleaned and decorated. These cattle help us in many ways - we get dairy products from them, they help us in the farms, they are used in generating oil from the oil seeds, etc.,
It is also said that, it is on this Kanuma that Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhana mountain to save people, cattle and many lives.
Food items with Sesame seeds (nuvvulu - aresalu) and Urad dal(minapappu - Garelu) are made on this day.

Aresalu
















Garelu

Makara Sankranthi

Makara Sankranthi day starts with decorating the houses, putting rangolis, having early morning oil head baths and wearing new clothes. Sun god is worshiped on this day. Milk is boiled and offered to Sun god. There is an astronomical significance of this day: this is the first day of Uttarayana, Sun moves northward for a period of six months. The rest of the six months, Sun is in Dakshinaayana – the south. This period is considered auspicious. Otherwise said - Makara Sankranthi is the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. Various food items are made and there is enjoyment all around in the family.

Bhogi

Bhogi is the first day of the Sankranti festival. Early morning people light bonfire (bhogi mantalu) made out of cow-dung cakes (traditionally), old wooden articles to get the warmth in the winter. People dance around the bonfire, singing songs in praise of the gods, the spring and the harvest.
Houses are decorated in a very colorful way.
Pongal (kattae pongali) (one amongst the other food) is prepared with the new rice that comes from the first harvest of the year. In the evening, a function is arranged for the children and it is called Bhogi palla perantam. A bowl of small Bear fruits (regi pallu), Flower petals, coins of money and yellow rice grains (akshintalu) is prepared and will be moved around the little one’s heads for about three times and will be poured on their heads. The reason is to remove all kinds of bad or evil on the kids.

Sankranti - The Festival of Harvest

Sankranti is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of India.
It is a three day festival in Andra Pradesh.

1. Bhogi
2. Makara Sankranti and
3. Kanuma

Each day has its own significance and celebration.
The highlights of this festival are rangoli (or muggulu), haridasulu, gobbillu, gangireddulu, cock fights, food items and not to forget the kites. The main reason for so many activites can be the fact that in the olden days where media was not as activie as is it today, every member of the family was involved in some or the other activites of the house. Ladies would get involved in rangoli, preparing food items, kids and young stars in flying kites and men would perform the cock fights along with flying kites. Hence Sankrati is a Family festival and a festival for all. Also as part of the telugu custom - the newly married daughter's in-laws are invited to the house to celebrate this festival. The climate is also very nice and wintery that all the above activites can be enjoyed by one and all. The houses are decorated with Mango leaves(mamidakulu), Chrysanthemum (chamanthi), Marigold (Banthi) which are considered auspicious
Rangoli - The term rangoli is derived from words rang (colour) and aavalli ('coloured creepers' or 'row of colours'). It is a form of sandpainting decoration in front of the houses that uses finely ground white powder and colours. Women get up very early in the morning and start drawing colorful rangolis. They also decorate the rangoli with flower petals.
Haridasu - A person decorated in mythological role. He visits every home in search of food and alms in the name of Hari. The first visitor in festival time he is never denied of alms as it is auspicious to give the new crop in charity for better prosperity. The Haridasulu carry a copper vessel, made in the form of a pumpkin, on their head. They carry cymbals in one hand and a tambura in the other and go from house to house singing, 'Harilo Ranga Hari', and the glory of Lord Vishnu. This tradition is very much seen in the villages and towns and is very rare in our city life.
Gangireddu - Gangireddu is a sacred bull, which is decorated with beautiful clothes and ringing bells. The Bull nodes its head to the tunes played by his master.
Gobbillu - These are small round balls made of cow or buffalo dung and decorated on the rangoli. They are considered as goddess and are performed pooja by singing songs of goddess by young girls. They are decorated with flower petals.
Kites - Kites are flown for this festival. Hence the name Kite Festival. The sky becomes very colorful and busy with the kites.