Harvesting hope and happiness

Sankranti, the harvest festival, is an occasion that ushers in happiness and prosperity and is celebrated by people of all parts of the country. This new year celebration has a traditional touch to it.

From shopping, doing puja, distributing goodies in the neighbourhood, to even flying kites, Sankranti it is looked forward to with much
excitement in the City. Despite the hustle and bustle of everyday life, people come together and celebrate it with family and friends.

 It’s that time of the year when yellu-bella (a mix of sesame, dry coconut, groundnut and jaggery) and sugar-candy sculptures are distributed. Markets are filled with people doing last-minute shopping for sugarcane, flowers, new clothes and packets of
yellu-bella. One would think that the rise in prices would dampen the spirits of the shoppers. But that’s not true at all.

Traditional markets still have families purchasing sugarcanes, flowers and even other items in full fervour. “Business has not been affected and we are sure it will pick up over the weekend. Since it’s the first festival of the year there is a demand. Compared to last year, the prices have increased but the crowd has not stopped coming because of that,” says Suresh, a flower-seller.

According to Sandhya, a professional, people have become more dependent on ready-made items and will definitely go out to shop. In fact, she has been buying the traditional yellu-bella for Sankranti for the last few years.

“Earlier, we used to make it at home. But we hardly find time to do that these days. Now that everything is available in the shops, it has become quite convenient for working people. Some items have become expensive but the celebrations are not really dampened,” she adds.

Shreya, a student, says that her celebrations are very simple this year. She will buy new clothes for the festival and after a small puja at home, will have a special festive lunch.

The highlight is in the evening, when she heads out to distribute sugar candies and sugar canes in the neighbourhood. About the New Year celebrations on January 1 and on Sankranti, she says,“The two are completely different. On Sankranti, we welcome
the year with prayers and blessings from our elders.”

In fact, even colleges are getting set to welcome the festival. Vogue Institute of Fashion Design is having a special programme for Sankranti allowing students from different parts of the country to experience the traditional festival. Teena, a student of the college, says this will be the first time she is celebrating it.

“There is going to be many competitions and we are also decorating the college with sugarcane and distributing yellu-bella. And even flying kites. Since I am not from this City, I have never celebrated this festival. But I have got a chance to learn so much about it. This being a harvest festival, we are all going to be dressed in traditional clothes and will even take part in some of the events,” she adds.

The film industry is not far behind when it comes to celebrations. There will be special programmes on television while most of the actors wil be spending time with their
families.

Actress Harshika Poonachcha, too will spend her day with her loved ones. “I love this festival and I am looking forward to it because it is the start of a new year and there are many new things to look forward to.

I have been part of some wonderful projects and will soon be signing on a very big project as well,” she adds. Looks like the year is set to bring in loads of happiness and joy to everyone in the City.