Bhogi and Pongal: Embracing New Beginnings with Vibrant Festivities Across Southern India

Former BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao emphasized Bhogi, the first day of Sankranti, as a time for positivity and prosperity. Celebrations in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana heralded the harvest festival with rituals, kolams, and bustling markets. Festivities triggered high traffic and commercial activities across regions.

Marking the advent of the four-day Sankranti festival, former BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao underscored Bhogi as a moment for dispelling past negativities and ushering in prosperity. On Wednesday, he participated in traditional Bhogi Pongal rituals, including bonfire lighting and mantra chanting, at Andhra University grounds in Visakhapatnam.

Rao expressed hope for universal happiness, stating, "The onset of Sankranti allows us to pray for the end of past negativity and the arrival of prosperity." The festival, highly anticipated in Andhra Pradesh, sees families reunite in local villages and towns for spirited celebrations, blending customary fervor and elaborate rituals.

Tamil Nadu's Chennai witnessed symbolic bonfire lighting, symbolizing the end of winter. Heavy traffic was reported as residents journeyed home for the forthcoming Pongal festival. The festival spurred intense commercial activities, notably in Thoothukudi, where markets brimmed with festival essentials for robust celebrations.

Amidst vibrant kolam drawings and rhythmic drum beats by enthusiastic children, Telangana's Hyderabad celebrated Bhogi Pongal with traditional fervor, echoing a shared cultural heritage. With bustling trade, the Thoothukudi market exuded a vibrant festive spirit, harboring increased consumer turnout and spirited trading, indicative of the festival's significance.

(With inputs from agencies.)