Bullock cart race today
As a part of Sankranthi celebrations, the district Sports Development Academy has organised a bullock cart race at the district stadium here on Thursday.
The competition has been jointly organised by Sports Development Academy, Daily-wage Workers’ Association and Venugopal Swamy Devasthana Sangha. The race will be organised in three categories including single bullock cart and double bullock cart. The winners of the first three spots will be presented cash awards of Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.
Apart from this, Rangoli competitions have been organised at Kilaripete, Kurubarapete and Kataripalya. A team of judges from the Academy will go through the three villages and judge the rangolis. The best rangoli will receive a cash price of Rs 1,000. Those who are chosen for the second and third place will be presented with mementos. Those interested in participating in the competitions can call 99453 66422, 97401 77679, 97421 40460.
Festive spirit dampened
However, the charm of Sankranthi, which is usually called as the ‘festivals for the bulls’, is absent in some parts of the district this year. With the increasing use of tractors for agriculture, the number of bulls are dwindling. Even those farmers, who cannot afford to own a tractor, prefer to borrow tractors for ploughing. Traditionally, on the day of Sankranthi, the bulls, which slog for the farmers all year long, are given a wash, the horns are painted with bright colours and decorated with garland, and are taken in a procession in the village.
During the night, a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire. Usually, the spirit of Sankranthi is accompanied by the joy of harvest. But due to the irregular rains this year, farmers have been cheated of a full harvest too.
