The majestic Ongole bulls were the star attraction as Kanuma was celebrated with zest on the third day of the Makara Sankranti festival to mark the northward journey of the Sun during the auspicious Uttarayana Punyakalam, in Prakasam and SRSP Nellore districts on Wednesday.
Proud farmers vied with each other in exhibiting their cattle wealth by tastefully decorating the animals and recognised their contribution to their economic well-being as it was the heads of cattle which held them in good stead especially at times when monsoon repeatedly failed in the drought-prone district.
Ram fights
Racing Competitions were organised in, among other places,
Annambotlavaripalem, Kothapatnam and Chinnaganjam to assess the draught power of the bulls which attain maximum strength in the tracts between the rivers Gundalakamm and Musi.
Ram fights were also organised to encourage shepherds maintain goats and sheep, another viable economic activity in the district which was in the grip of drought for the fifth year in succession. ‘Gangireddu’ troupes went round the town blessing the residents. Religious-minded people honoured the bull tamers, who performed a variety of tricks much to the amusement of tiny tots, with new dresses, cash, sweets and savouries. The revellers enjoyed the extended weekend holidays playing among other games, cricket, volleyball and kabaddi. Members of GenX flew kites on the bunds of the picturesque summer storage tanks and from in open spaces. This was also the time when people performed rites to propitiate their forefathers.
YSR Congress Party leader and former Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, along with party workers took part in the traditional ‘paruveta.’ In Nellore, Collector R.Muthyala Raju along with his family members honoured ‘gangireddu’ troupe and gave alms to a person in the attire of the traditional Haridasu.
