గంగిరెద్దు ఇంటకొచ్చెరో.. గంగడోలు దువ్వి పంపరో!!
తెలుగిళ్ళ లోగిళ్ళ లోనికి పెద్ద పండుగొచ్చింది చూడరో!
కిల కిల సందళ్ళ తో ఇలా కొత్త పొద్దు తెచ్చింది చూడరో!!
Good old days.. ధనుర్మాసం మొదలయ్యింది అంటే నే,వీధుల్లొ హరిదాసులు, గంగిరెద్దువాళ్ళు, సన్నాయి, చూడ ముచ్చటైన సన్నివేశాలు.సంక్రాంతి పండగొస్తోందంటే , అందరికి సంబరాలే!!
‘the harvest festival’ brings in all the colours ..tastefully decorated bulls, melodious music from the ‘sannai’, ‘dodo basavannalu’ and haridAsulu in their traditional attire. The traditional
basavanna song ,
"మహారాజ రాజశ్రీ మహనీయులందరికీ వందనాలు వంద వందనాలు!
హరిహరులను సెవించే ఈ దాసులాడేటి తందనాలు తకిట తందనాలు!!
డుడు బసవన్న అయ్యగారికి దండం పెట్టు, అమ్మగారికి దండం పెట్టూ",ఇలా ఇంటి పెద్దలని గౌరవించి, ఇంటి ఇంటికీ వెళ్ళీ సంకురాత్రి పందగ రాక ని తెలియజేస్తారు.
సన్నాయి ఊదగానే ఆ తాళానికి , రాగానికి, తలాడిస్తూ కాళ్ళతో ఆట ఆడే బసవన్నల కొమ్ములకి కట్టిన చిట్టి గంటలు చేసే చక్కని శబ్దాలకోసం పిల్లలు వీధి అరుగులమీద ఎదురు చూపులు! ఎంత రమణీయమైన దృశ్యం!
The Gangireddulu are believed to be favourites of Lord Shiva and hence treated with reverence. They purchase the male calves at the auction held by the Simhachalam Devasthanam every year. The calves are usually donated by devotees. The Gangireddulavallu purchase the calves in the auction and train them well and take them out to entertain people. The bulls are revered as `Simhadri Appanna' as they were pledged to Lord Varaha Lakshminrusimha Swami of Simhachalam.
`Haridasulu' in their colourful attire were a feast for the eyes during Pongal. This is another tradition, which has almost disappeared from cities and urban areas. Thankfully, they are still patronised and honoured in the rural areas. The Haridasulu carry a copper vessel, made in the form of a pumpkin, on their head. They carry `chidathalu' (cymbals) in one hand and a tambura in the other and go from house to house singi
ng, "Harilo Ranga Hari'', and the glory of Lord Mahavishnu.
The Haridasulu tie anklets to their feet and apply `Namams' (markings with sandalwood paste) on their forehead. They have to wear only saffron clothes during the auspicious month (Dhanurmasam). It is believed that the Haridasulu are a replica of sage Narada, a devotee of Mahavishnu, who comes to bless his devotees. The people wash his feet, pay their obeisance and seek his blessings. The Haridasulu take rice from the vessel and sprinkle them on devotees to bless them. It is believed that the Haridasulu should never be turned away without giving any alms. They accept rice, money, vegetables and other offerings.
ఇక సంక్రాంతి విశేషమేమిటంటే, ..
Makar Sankranti marks the commencement of the sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara raasi), signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam, and is a day of celebration all over the country. The day begins with people taking holy dips in the waters and worshipping the Sun.Traditionally, this period is considered an auspicious time and the veteran Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period. It is believed that those who die in this period have no rebirth.
తెలుగువాళ్ళకి ఇది 'పెద్ద పండుగ'.The whole event lasts for three days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti, the third day Kanuma .
రంగు రంగుల రంగవల్లులు తీర్చి దిద్ది, బంతి పువ్వులు పెట్టిన గొబ్బిళ్ళు చేర్చి, పట్టు పరికిణీలు వేసుకున్న కన్నెపిల్లలు, వాటి చుట్టూ పాటలు పాడుతూ ఆడే ఆట చూసి తీరవలసిందే!
‘ గొబ్బిళ్ళమ్మ గొబ్బిల్లో అల్లరి మల్లెల ఆరళ్ళో!’
bhOgi: భోగి
the first day of the festival, is celebrated in the honor of lord Indra, ‘the king of Gods!’. A 
ritual observed today is ‘bhOgi manTalu’ when useless household things and old clothes are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow dung cakes. Youngsters sing and dance around the bonfire. The significance of the bonfire , in which is burnt the agricultural wastes and firewood is to keep warm during the last lap of winter. In the evenings small kids are blessed by the elder ladies with 'భోగి పళ్ళు’ a mixture of coins, రేగి పళ్ళు, బంతి పువ్వుల రేకులు, to live long and also save them from ‘ DrishTi’(దృష్టి)!!
Pedda panDuga:పెద్ద పండుగ
Makara sankranti , worship, perform puja and arrange ‘బొమ్మల కొలువు’ to invite people home and exchange sweets and greetings.
Not only girls, th
e boys have their share of fun too! A colourful fun indeed!! A wide variety of kites are made and flown.. the
y traditionally call them ‘patang’! they get the sharpest ‘manja’ ( a special thread made with powdered glass) to cut their opponents kite..in a battle of kite flying! That’s ultimate fun.
Kanuma: కనుమ
This day, the cows and buffaloes are worshipped and thanked for ploughing the fields and contributing to the harvest. A famous saying goes.. ‘ no meat should be eaten this day’ it’s a respect we are giving our animal friends!! And people make and eat ‘ గారెలు’! a special ముగ్గు , that of a chariot( రధం) is made at the వాకిలి
Aaaaaaaah and not to miss.. the spirit of sankranti in my dear city Hyderabad:
