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.