Sankranti festivities begin in AP, Telangana

Hyderabad: The three-day Sankranti festivities began in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Wednesday with the 'Bhogi' festival being celebrated with fervour and gaiety on the first day.

The traditional 'Bhogi' (bonfires) were lit outside homes before sunrise with young and the old gathering around the fire sites. Unwanted items like old clothes and mats are thrown into the fire. Towns and villages wore festive look with women drawing muggu (colourful Rangoli) at the entrance of their homes and placing 'gobbemmalu' (cow-dung balls) on them. The dried cow-dung balls or cakes are also thrown into the 'Bhogi' fire. In the evening, regi pandlu (small berries) and coins are poured on children to protect them from evil eye. Cock and bull fights are organised as part of the festivities, of which kite flying is an integral part. Thursday is the main day  of festival Sankranti, followed by 'Kanuma' on the third day when cattle are worshipped.