Bhogi festive fervour engulfs Chittoor rural side

The ‘Bhogi’ festive fervour engulfed Chittoor district on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the three-day Sankranti celebrations. The tri-State junction bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reflected its unique blend of Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil cultural traditions, while several villages looked decked up and colourful.

From the early hours, rural households gathered to light Bhogi bonfires, burning discarded items such as broomsticks, waste paper, wooden articles, firewood, and dried weeds. The ritual symbolises the shedding of the old and the ushering in of new beginnings. A large number of youth joined the festivities in rural areas.

Kuppam, Palamaner, Chittoor, Nagari in Chitoor district, and Madanapalle, Rayachoti, and Piler in neighbouring Annamayya district witnessed the festivities in full swing.

In view of the strict prohibitory orders on the rooster fights, police personnel maintained a tight vigil across the rural side and no incident was reported from the region. However, Kuppam and Palamaner Assembly constituencies are gearing up for the ‘bull races’, the local version of Tamil Nadu’s ‘Jallikattu’.

Unlike the previous years, the organisers have strictly stayed away from giving any publicity to the races. Similarly, they refrained from issuing any pamphlets or publicity on social media. However, according to the police officials, the organisers have maintained a silent network to go ahead with the races as a low-key affair.

The festive season has also bolstered the meat and poultry sector, which witnessed a sudden surge in demand with the conclusion of ‘Dhanurmasam’.

The traditional ‘Pasuvula Panduga’ (Kanuma) will be observed on January 16 (Friday), with major celebrations planned in Kuppam, Baireddipalle, V. Kota, and Palamaner, while several villages are expected to join the occasion in a phased manner, continuing till the end of February.