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.

Vijayadasami

Finally 9th October 2008 - Vijay dasami, the tenth and the last day of dasara. This day marks the occasion of Lord Rama worshiping Goddess Durga for blessings to win over Ravana.

During dasara, especially on the eight and ninth days, people perform poojas to their machinery and vehicles.

On Durgastami (eight day) the machinery is worshiped and on Maharnavami (ninth day) the vehicles. It is believed that Lord Arjuna worshiped his bow and arrow on this day.

Dasara - Day 9

Today - 8th october 2008, the eighth day of Dasara, also known as Maharnavami - Goddess is decorated as Sree Rajarajeshwari devi.
The tidhi is Navami.
The star is Uttarashada.
The offering or prasadam is Chitrannam and laddu.

Dasara - Day 8

Today - 7th october 2008, the eighth day of Dasara, also known as Durgashtami - Goddess is decorated as Sree Mahishasura Mardhini devi.
The tidhi is Ashtami.
The star is Purvashada.
The offering or prasadam is Annaparavannam.

Dasara - Day 7

Today - 6th october 2008, the seventh day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Saraswathi devi.

The tidhi is Saptami.

The star is Moola.

The offering or prasadam is Chekkara pongali.

Dasara - Day 6

5th october 2008, the sixth day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Maha Lakshmi devi.
The tidhi is Shasthi.
The star is Jesta.
The offering or prasadam is Mixed vegetable rice.

Dasara - Day 5

Today - 4th october 2008, the fifth day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Lalitha Tripura Sundari devi.
The tidhi is Chavithi.
The star is Anuradha.
The offering or prasadam is Dadhojanam.

Dasara - Day 4

Today, 3rd October 2008 - the fourth day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Annapurna devi.
The tidhi is Chavithi.
The star is Vishaka.
The offering or prasadam is Allam garelu.

Dasara - Day 3

Today, 2nd October 2008 - the third day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Vedamata Panchamukhi Gayathri devi.
The tidhi is Tadiya.
The star is Swathi.
The offering or prasadam is Coconut rice.

Dasara - Day 2

Today - 1st october 2008, the second day of Dasara, Goddess is decorated as Sree Bala Tripura Sundari devi.

The tidhi is Vidiya.
The star is Chitta.
The offering or prasadam is Pulihora.

Dasara - Day 1

Today - 30th september 2008, is the first day of Dasara.

The Goddess is decorated as Sree Swarnakavacha Durga devi.

The tidhi is Padyami.

The star is Hastha.

The offering or prasadam is Pulagam.

The above information is as per the avatarams of Vijayawada. The Shankar mutt avatarams are slightly different.

Dasara

Dasara, also known as Navaratri is the time of worshiping the Goddess. Goddess is very powerful. Each day (in the 9 days), the goddess is decorated in various avatars and is worshiped. One of the ways to celebrate this festival (as I do) is to perform the respective goddess Ashtotram (recite the 108 names of the goddess) and then read Sree Lalitha Sahasranamam and then offer the prasadam that is for that day.
The following are the avatars of the godess.
Durga
Bala Tripura Sundari
Gayathri
Annapurna
Lalitha
Lakshmi
Saraswathi
Raja rajeshwari
Mahishasura mardhini