<p> Prayers, cultural and religious programmes marked Makara Sankranthi (Pongal) across the city on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kere Sankranthi celebrations were held at Uttarahalli Lake where a special Rashi Puja was held on the lake. Thanksgiving and puja were offered to the first harvest of crops like groundnuts, rice, sugarcane, sweet potato and double beans. A pipeline was inaugurated to ensure continuous water to 10,000 trees and plants around the lake.<br /> <br />Temples resonated with chants, special prayers and religious activities. Hundreds of devotees thronged Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple at Gavipuram to witness a rare celestial phenomenon wherein the sun rays pass through the window and fall on the Shivalinga in the sanctum sanctorum. This happens only on Sankranthi day. The phenomenon lasted for half-an-hour from 4.45 pm and ‘abhisheka’ was performed to the Shivalinga.<br /><br />Rangoli contests and a 'Sankranthi food mela' were also part of the celebrations at various part of the city.<br /><br />At markets, people made a last-minute rush to buy ellu (sesame)-bella (jaggery), sugarcane and sugar candies.<br /><br />Savitha Krishna, a resident from Banashankari said: "I look forward to celebrating this harvest festival every year. Our family celebrates the festival annually with ‘Sankranthi’ offerings in a plate and exchanges it with other families and neighbours. The plate has ellu-bella mixed with fried groundnuts and neatly cut copra. Consuming them on Sankranthi is auspicious besides being healthy.”<br /><br /></p>
<p> Prayers, cultural and religious programmes marked Makara Sankranthi (Pongal) across the city on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Kere Sankranthi celebrations were held at Uttarahalli Lake where a special Rashi Puja was held on the lake. Thanksgiving and puja were offered to the first harvest of crops like groundnuts, rice, sugarcane, sweet potato and double beans. A pipeline was inaugurated to ensure continuous water to 10,000 trees and plants around the lake.<br /> <br />Temples resonated with chants, special prayers and religious activities. Hundreds of devotees thronged Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple at Gavipuram to witness a rare celestial phenomenon wherein the sun rays pass through the window and fall on the Shivalinga in the sanctum sanctorum. This happens only on Sankranthi day. The phenomenon lasted for half-an-hour from 4.45 pm and ‘abhisheka’ was performed to the Shivalinga.<br /><br />Rangoli contests and a 'Sankranthi food mela' were also part of the celebrations at various part of the city.<br /><br />At markets, people made a last-minute rush to buy ellu (sesame)-bella (jaggery), sugarcane and sugar candies.<br /><br />Savitha Krishna, a resident from Banashankari said: "I look forward to celebrating this harvest festival every year. Our family celebrates the festival annually with ‘Sankranthi’ offerings in a plate and exchanges it with other families and neighbours. The plate has ellu-bella mixed with fried groundnuts and neatly cut copra. Consuming them on Sankranthi is auspicious besides being healthy.”<br /><br /></p>
