The festival of Sankranthi brings back many fond memories for her, especially of travelling to her village, Amalapuram, in coastal Andhra Pradesh where her grandparents lived.
“Dhanur masam starts around mid-December and culminates in Bhogi. Since my grandparents observed this month, the mandatory breakfast was kattu pongal.”
“On the day of Bhogi, all of us wake up early. It is a custom to use cow dung cakes and burn them with ghee. There are a few villages around us that are dedicated to making them.”
“Another sight to behold was the muggu (kolam/rangoli) that adorned the entrance of every home. I used to love helping the neighbour akkas with filling the muggus with colours.”
“Macharamma would come to wash our hair with kunkundukaya (shikakai). Our hands and legs would be anointed with oil, and then we’d bathe using sunnipindi.”
The sound of the nadaswaram of the gandireddu would fill the streets on the day of Sankranthi. A bull would be adorned with beautiful clothes and bells around its feet.
It was also customary to eat something made of Minumu. Kanuma roju minumu korakali – a bite of urad is a must on Kanuma. On Kanuma day, the muggu is of Ratham/chariot.