Dubai: Telugu expatriate families in Dubai celebrated Sankranthi in a traditional manner at Arabian Ranches on Saturday.
Though staying thousands of kilometres away from their home towns, about 60 people, who gathered at a private villa, didn’t miss all the activities associated with the harvest festival that is celebrated as Sankranthi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and as Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
The floors were decorated with floral designs (rangoli) and the entrances with flower garlands. A bonfire was lit in the evening as part of Bhogi, which is the first day of the three-day festival.
According to the Gregorian calendar, Bhogi is normally celebrated on January 13. The second day is Makar Sankranthi and the third day is Kanuma. Makara Sankranthi marks the first day of Sun’s transit into Makara (Capricorn) raasi (zodiac).
In keeping with the tradition, boys and men flew kites and women who were dressed in their festive best silk sarees sang and danced round the bonfire.
The celebrations that began early in the morning ended late evening with a feast that included pongal, a sweet dish made of rice, milk and jaggery.
