The celebration of Makar Sankranti is very similar in Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka. In Karnataka,
this is the Suggi or harvest festival for farmers of Kaveri basin of Karnataka.
Since sugarcane is widely grown, it plays a prominent
role in the celebrations, as the first harvest
of the season.
In Karnataka, a proportionate mixture of til, chana dal, finely
cut pieces of jaggery, dry coconut and
roasted groundnuts are mixed to prepare a delicious combination. This along
with sugar cubes crafted in varieties of shapes, a
piece of sugar cane, fruits, betel leaves and
any other attractive fancy items and goodies are distributed among relatives,
neighbors and friends (called “Yellu
Beerodu”).
This is an occasion for excitement and festivity especially for
the children, who dress in new clothes and
receive gifts from the elders in the family. Small children, below five years
of age are considered divine, and this
festival is used to pray for their wellbeing. A ritual called “Phala Eriyadu” is performed in many households, where
pieces of sugarcane, mixture of til, jaggery,
channa dal, Copra, and groundnut, a few coins and Jujube berries (called
‘yellachi kai’, a small, red, sour berry) is
dropped over the childs head into a bowl in the evening. This is then distributed later. This ritual acts to invoke
blessings and prosperity for the child.
For farmers, the welfare of the cattle also plays an important
role. Cattle are bathed and cleaned in
the morning, their horns painted and decorated, and they are worshipped. They
are adorned with colorful cloth on their back. In the
evening, after sunset, the cattle are then taken
in a procession to the fields and are made to jump over burning coals. This
ritual, called Kicchu haisodu, is believed to
wards off any evil, enhances the immunity of the cattle and keeps diseases away.
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