SANKRANTHI

SANKRANTHI

Sankranthi is  a big and famous festival in India.In Sanscrit it means the transmigration of the Sun from Makara Rashi(Capricorn)on its celestial path to another zodiac.
It is celebrated in different parts of India:the state of Bihar,Bengal,Punjab,Maharastra,Gujarath,Rajastan,Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh where the city of Anantapur is located.
.In Andra Pradesh it is known as Sankranthi , but in Tamil Nadul it  is known as Pongal.
This festival is called the Harvest Festival because ,when  farmers harvest the crop from their fields,they show happiness celebrating  it.
This is a three-day festival celebrated in the month of January,according to  the moon calendar the festival takes place on the 14th of January every year,but the festival starts on the 13th and goes on till the 15th .
The first day is called Bhogi .On this day people light fires  to symbolise that people forget about their sad moments of the past year.People also throw useless household articles into bonfires and people dance around them.People also draw beautiful rangolis

 made with colourful chalk on the ground in front of their houses.They decorate them with flowers,and with sparkling and bright colours.Appart from this, some people also collect wood to make a bonfire to overcome the cold weather.On this day people prepare several recipes to make Roti (bread similar to chapati and pancakes)

The second day is Sankranthi.People decorate again the floor with Rangolis, fly kites and prepare the main dish called Pongal made with rice and cooked in the firewood.People offer it to the Sungod usually called as Suryam Pongal.

They also wear nice and new dresses.On this day people also tie mango leaves in front of the house.

The third day is called Kanuma.It is believed that Lord Khrisna lifted the Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Gokulum on this day.On Kanuma, people prepare different non-vegetarian dishes.During this day different competitions take place such as Bullock cart competition  and Mattu Pongal. 

This festival is also dedicated to the cows.Cows are painted with many colours and they are tied colourful papers around their necks.

This article has been the result of  a compilation of some of the writings made by some of the students of the French group A:Sowjanja,Pushpa,Leela,Suneetha,Anu,Santhi,Neela and Savithri.

Congratulations to all of them for the great work they did!!