Kanuma celebrations bring villages of north Andhra alive
Kanuma, the third day of Sankranti, brought a strong festive mood to villages across north Andhra Pradesh on Friday. From Visakhapatnam to Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, communities celebrated the day with cattle worship, field rituals, family visits and village events, reflecting the region’s close connection with agriculture.
Early in the day, temple bells rang out across villages as people began Kanuma rituals. Farmers in several mandals performed go-puja and polaalu pooja (field worship), offering prayers to cattle that support farm work and dairy livelihoods. Families bathed cows and bulls, applied turmeric and vermilion, and painted horns in bright colours. In addition, villagers decorated animals with garlands and bells and led them in short processions.
Meanwhile, women drew colourful rangoli patterns near cattle sheds and at doorsteps, adding to the festive atmosphere.
“Kanuma is not just a festival day, but a reminder of our roots,” said Srinivas Rao, a farmer from Anandapuram mandal near Visakhapatnam. “Even though we use machines now, cattle and the earth have supported our families for generations,” he added.
Across parts of Vizianagaram district, the festival also turned into a community celebration. Organisers arranged folk performances and village sports events, and youngsters participated in kabaddi and other traditional games. Notably, many residents described Kanuma as a reunion day, as families returned from towns and cities to their native villages.
“For us, Kanuma feels like a village reunion,” said K. Narayana, a resident of the Nellimarla area. “People who work in cities come back, elders meet, and the whole street becomes lively again.”
Food and hospitality remained at the heart of the celebrations. Many households cooked special dishes for extended families and hosted relatives throughout the day. In coastal and semi-urban pockets of the Visakhapatnam region, meat and poultry markets saw heavy crowds, as many families followed the long-running tradition of non-vegetarian feasts on Kanuma.
Although Kanuma remains rooted in village life, Visakhapatnam city also witnessed Sankranti-related cultural programmes celebrating Telugu traditions. Overall, Kanuma stood out for its simple message: gratitude to nature, livestock and the labour that sustains communities.