Category: Festivals

A festival is an extraordinary event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures.

Bhogi Festival

Bhogi Festival

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Bhogi

The last day of Danus Sankranti is Bhogi. People celebrate it with great zeal and happiness as it is the first festival in the English New Year. One day before people collect derelict objects like broken furniture, spoiled mats, used brooms, used winnowers, logs and dry branches of the trees etc.

On Bhogi day in the early hours, they put bonfires in front of their houses with the collected objects. The series of bonfires in the streets feast our eyes with emitting flames and smoke.

Bhogi

Bathing

The cold atmosphere at that place turns warm gradually. Some people boil water in pots on these bonfires for taking oil bath with this water. In rural areas, women combine their hands with others hands and go around the bonfires by singing and dancing. Everyone cleans their houses and takes oil bath on Bhogi day. Some people go to the temple as it is the last day of Dhanurmasa.

Dhanurmasam – Goda Devi

Dhanurmasa is an auspicious month because Goda Devi, the incarnation of Bhudevi (the mother earth) worshipped Sri Ranganatha swami with her Tiruppavai pasurams during Dhanurmasam and married Ranganatha swami on this Bhogi day. In almost all Vaishnavite temples Goda kalyanam (marriage) with Ranganatha swami will be performed on Bhogi day.

The idol of Goda Devi will be brought to the Kalyana Mandapam in a Bhogi chariot which is specially made for this occasion.

Goda Devi drew rangoli to invite Lord Krishna

The special attraction of Bhogi is felt with the colorful rangoli drawn in front of the houses. It indicates the beginning of Dhanurmasa and goes up to Mukkanuma. It is said that Goda Devi drew rangoli to invite Lord Krishna to her house.

During Danurmasa unmarried girls get up before dawn and draw rangoli in front of their houses. Then they worship Lord Krishna to bless them with the best bridegroom.

Various kinds of rangoli like flowers, birds, animals, musical instruments, dolls, flower vases, pots, and sugar cane can be drawn during an entire festival month.

Bhogi Rangoli

Some women arrange gobemmalu (gobemmalu are cow dung balls which are decorated with turmeric powder, red vermilion powder, flowers, and different types of grains) in between rangoli, one in the middle and the remaining around it.

The middle one is treated as Krishna or Gauri Devi and the remaining are treated as gopikas. These gobemmalu are then dried and used as fuel for cooking payasam on Rathasaptami or on Sankranti.

Magha suddha Saptami is Rathasaptami, the birthday of the Sun god. The other special attraction of Bhogi is Haridas.

Haridas especially dress in saffron clothes, applying namams on their forehead, putting a bowl like a pumpkin on their head, holding cymbals in one hand and thambura in another hand, and fitting anklets to their legs. They are considered as a replica of sage Narada, a divine devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Rangoli during Bhogi

They walk along the streets by singing sundarakanda and Bhagavatam during Dhanurmasa. They create a devotional atmosphere there. It is believed that they should not be sent away without giving any alms. They accept rice, money, vegetables and other offerings.

In some places, an old tradition of Bhommalakoluvu is seen. It is showcasing dolls for 3 days commencing with Bhogi. Women and children arrange the dolls aesthetically and thematically. They invite neighbors and friends and distribute Thambulam (Betel leaves and nuts with Bananas) as part of the tradition.

Special food items

At houses

  • Tamarind rice,
  • hot Pongal,
  • bobattlu/poli/poornalu (prepared with atta/ liquid rice flour and paste of jaggery and Bengal gram).

In the evening the elders in the house pour a mixture of flower petals, jujube berries, pieces of sugar cane, and coins (called Bhogi pallu) on the heads of the children to protect the children from an evil eye. They invite neighbors on this eve.

Makara Sankranti

Makara Sankranti

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Sankranti – Four Sankrantis are Main

The sun changes from one zodiac sign to another zodiac sign once every 30 days. The time at which the sun changes the zodiac sign is called ‘Sankramanam‘. The day on which sankramanam occurs is called ‘Sankranti’.

There are 12 Sankranti in a year. Among them, 4 Sankrantis are very important. They are

  • Mesha Sankranti,
  • Karkataka Sankranti,
  • Dhanus Sankranti and
  • Makara Sankranti.

Uttarayanam & Dakshinayanam

A period of six months is called ‘Ayanam’. Two Ayanams or one year is equal to one day for God.

  • The first six months which is called Uttarayanam is a day – Uttarayanam begins with Makara Sankranti and ends with Karkataka Sankranti
  • The remaining six months which is called Dakshinayanam is a night for Gods – Dakshinayanam begins with Karkataka Sankranti and ends with Makara Sankranti.

Danus Sankranti comes just one month before Makara Sankranti.

Makara Sankranti

Makara Sankranti is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Indians. Though the origin of the festival is not known exactly, it is traced back to the time of Aryans who worshipped the Sun God to save and protect them from the hot sunny summer and cold winters.

In Andhra Pradesh, Makara Sankranti is celebrated for 4 days.

  • The first day is Bhogi.
  • The second day is Makara Sankranti and
  • The third day is Kanuma and
  • The fourth day is Mukkanuma.

Uttarayana Punya Kala begins with Makara Sankranti. It is believed that people who die during this six-month period will go directly to Vaikuntam. This is the reason why Bhishma in Mahabharata who got voluntary death as a boon from his father waited until this time to leave his body.

People drop Tila tarpan (dropping black sesame seeds with water) to their dead ancestors to liberate them from the sins they committed and to let them continue their journey to Vaikuntam.

Makara Sankranti

Preparations on the day of Sankranti

Sankranti is a festival in reverence to the deity Surya. So women wake up before dawn, clean their courtyard draw beautiful rangoli, and fill rangoli with various colors.

Then they decorate the entrance of their house with marigold festoons and the thresholds by applying turmeric and vermilion paste.

After taking a bath and wearing new clothes they worship the sun god and offer payasam. This payasam is cooked in specially decorated earthen pots on the flame lit with cow dung cakes (which have been preserved for it) under the pavilion of sugar cane sticks in the presence of the Sun god.

Sankranti is a harvest festival. So Goddess Lakshmi will also be worshipped in the names of Dhanya Lakshmi or Sankranti Lakshmi to bless the farmers with good yields.

The new sons-in-law are invited to their parents-in-law for Sankranti along with their better halves for a big feast. Garelu (made of a black gram), Arisalu/ attirasalu (made of rice flour and jaggery) along with other items are served in the meal on this day.

Attraction of Sankranti

The big attraction of Sankranti is gangireddu. Gangireddu is a sacred bull that is considered a form of Nandhiswara, a divine vehicle of Lord Siva. They are decorated with various clothes and with ringing bells around their neck and led by their master.

The master goes house to house along with the bull and an accompanying person. The master plays Nadaswaram and the accompanying person beats dolu. It symbolizes the upcoming good luck of the householders.

The Puranas say that on this day the Sun visits the house of his son Shani who is head of the Makara Rasi. This day symbolizes the healthy relationship between father and son.

Ugadi Festival - New Year

Ugadi Festival – New Year

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Ugadi – New Year for most of the states in INDIA

Seasons change. So are the accomplishments that seasons give to us. Because of variations, nature is always juvenile. The trees which shed their leaves in winter, sprout new leaves in spring and flourish with dexterity.

Of all the seasons, spring is the most invigorating and appealing. Lord Krishna says that “Rutunaamkusumaakarah”, I am the Spring in seasons. Because of this reason, the beginning of the new year will be counted from this season.

The first month in Spring is “Chaitram”. In the case of thidhi, Paadyami is accredited as the first. Brahma Purana says that Lord Brahma had commenced the creation of this universe on this day in the aeon.

This is the starting of a Yuga. This day is celebrated by all Telugu people as the first festival because all the above were commenced on this day of yore.

The learning also said that Lord Rama had been crowned, and Lord Krishna ceased his incarnation on this day. The beginning of Kali Yug was also on this day. As per the computations of Varahamihira, the astronomer and the astrologist, Chaitra is the first month in a year.

On this great day, he had consecrated the first Panchangam (Almanac) to us. Famous kings like Vikramaditya and Andhra king, Salivahana ascended the throne on Paadyami thidhi of Chaitra month.

Ugadi Pachhadi (chutney)

The moment you think of Ugadi, then comes instantly to anybody’s thoughts is “Ugadipachhadi”.

Mixing up the green mangoes, neem flowers, fresh jaggery, tamarind, chilly, and salt, the Ugadi Pachhadi is made to reflect the six tastes of life which are the spokes of happiness and sadness. However, keeping this aside, it is mentioned in Ayurveda that, consuming this pachhadi on Ugadi day will remove phlegm, gas, and many other health problems.

  • The neem acts as antiseptic, antibacterial. It also removes skin diseases.
  • Raw Mango cures the defects in blood circulation in the body.
  • Tamarind helps in digestion.
  • New jaggery reduces the heat in the body.
  • The chilly cures an earache, throat swelling.
  • Salt restricts growing of fat in veins.

Normally this chutney is made in new earthen pots and hence keeps the body cool. Some people also add pieces of sugarcane and banana to the chutney.

Panchanga Sravanam

(Rendering of Almanac)

This is invariably done on Ugadi day. There is a meaning in this. This is the scientific way of showcasing our rituals. There are five parts. Thidhi, Vara (week), Nakshatra (star), Yoga and Karana.

Chatra Chamara Sekarana

(Collection of umbrellas, hand fans)

Commencing from the month of Chaitra, the rays of Lord Sun get intense and hence people collect umbrellas and hand fans to protect themselves from the scorching heat.

Pravadana Prarambham

(Starting by Providing Cool Water)

Prava means “cool hut” and Prasaadanam means sources of providing cool water. Such huts set up to provide cool water are also started on this day.

Vasanta Navaratri Utsavam

(Celebrations of Nine Nights)

Starting from Ugadi, celebrations are done for nine days. People pray Lord Rama during these nine days to bless them with good luck during the entire year.

Even though small changes occur, there is always an inherent meaning and purpose in our customs and rituals. Our elders thus made such festivals as part of our daily life.

May the Lord Sri Venkateswara with his consort goddess, Padmavathi bless us all every year.

Ugadi - Tirumala Temple
Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple on day of Ugadi
Ugadi Chutney

Ugadi Chutney

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Ugadi Pachhadi/ Ugadi Chutney is also known by some other names such as UgadiGojju, Ugadi Rasayana.

On the day of the Ugadi festival after taking the bath, the Chutney is prepared and offered to God as naivedya. Then it is taken as the first intake of the day with the fond hope that the forthcoming year would be joyful.

Ugadi Chutney ingredients

Ugadi Pachhadi (chutney)

The moment you think of Ugadi, then comes instantly to anybody’s thoughts is “Ugadi pachhadi”.

Ugadi Chutney is a combination of six tastes –

  1. sweet 
  2. sour
  3. acrid
  4. bitter
  5. salty
  6. spicy.

A chutney which is a combination of the above six tastes will, of course, be palatable.

For sweetness, people add jaggery (some use sugar instead),

for sourness, ripe tamarind is used,

for acrid taste, tender grated mango is used,

for bitterness the flowers of margosa [neem] tree or the tender leaves of the same tree.

Salt and for spiciness, green chilies are used. Each of these tastes is representative of different experiences– sweet is for comfort, bitterness is for misery.

Similarly, the other tastes also represent different moods and experiences of life. The obvious concept is that we should accept life as a mixture of different moods and experiences. It is in a way to prepare ourselves for such phases in the forthcoming year.

Mixing up the green mangoes, neem flowers, fresh jaggery, tamarind, chilly, and salt, the Ugadi Pachhadi is made to reflect the six tastes of life which are the spokes of happiness and sadness.

However, keeping this aside, it is mentioned in Ayurveda that, consuming this pachhadi on Ugadi day will remove phlegm, gas, and many other health problems.

  • Neem acts as an antiseptic, and antibacterial. It also removes skin diseases.
  • Raw Mango cures the defects in blood circulation in the body.
  • Tamarind helps in digestion.
  • New jaggery reduces the heat in the body.
  • Chilly cures an earache, and throat swelling.
  • Salt restricts the growth of fat in veins.

Normally this chutney is made in new earthen pots and hence keeps the body cool. Some people also add pieces of sugarcane and banana to the chutney.