Sankranthi was celebrated with a community feeling of cultures from Andhra , Tamil nadu , Maharashtra , northern states and Karnataka . At beginning of event, we wished everyone in all 4 languages . Previous day we decorated the place with 3 rangolis . One was made by wetting ground with desi cow dung and Gobbemalu ( cowdung balls with flowers & haldi-kumum decoration ). Second Ragoli was made where we cooked pongal in open on bricks and using cowdung cakes as fuel. Rangoli depicting surya's chariot 'Rath' was made and decorated with Turmeric leaves . Third rangoli was made on stage with terracota powder and rice powder ...area decorated with sugarcane sticks, mango leaves and flowers .
We performed puja of Cow with calf and Ox . We performed surya puja by chanting Ashtakam and giving pongal as prasadam . A knowledgeble person briefed us on the importance and meaning of the festival. Cowherd people were given daan of Rice,Jaggery and Til apart from other items by residents. Cowherd people played Nadaswaram ( traditional music of keertanas ) by walking around our complex .They performed a show of Ox and cow depicting them as Sita and Ram . The show was Sita Rama Kalyanam which the cattle and their owners performed well entertaining young and old . Special sankranti sweet made of til and jaggery was distributed among everyone . Haldi Kumkum was given to Suhasini's. Kids and adults fed the cattle with vegetables and beaten rice-jaggery. Cultural programs based on tradition concluded the event.
Our purpose to share these in detail is to make other centres aware . The cowherd people are quite talented but unfortunately they are surviving mostly on begging by taking their cattle all around the area. We would like to encourage this art form by giving them a platform to perform . Our children will not only enjoy , but benefit a lot by seeing the tradition .Its our responsibilty to keep this art form alive. These cowherd people live in slums after migrating from villages . Without proper guidance , they are lost here and ultimately resort to easy money by begging near temples or streets. Occasionally they get chance to go to Gruhapravesh with cow where they are paid well.
Such talented people may be anywhere apart from HSR . We need to encourage them as they are keeping the tradition alive. This will slowly give them chance to earn with respect. Gau puja has always been a part of our culture . We suggest to have Gau puja conducted near temples or on festivals inside apartments and encourage Bal Bharthi children to participate actively. This way cattle people will not sell their cows to butchers .When we invite these people to play traditional music during our community festivals , it will become a respectable job to earn . Mutual benefit is my intention. Our kids will learn tradition from such events. Any Bal bharthi centre in HSR interested in conducting similar activities may kindly contact us.
Although we conduct Bal Bharthi every sunday , sometimes practical exposure to such traditions will make good impact on children.
Childrens day- we planted saplings that were grown in our pots at home from seeds left after eating the fruit. Children adopted a plant and regularly watered them.
Republic day - We performed a skit on saving trees and took oath to protect them.
Independence day - Kids staged a Nukkad Naatak about Saving water in Hindi. Kids made Gandhi Topi's with newspaper and coloured it with Tiranga.
Rathasapthami - Children along with parents performed Suryanamaskar in open ground during sunset . We chanted Suryashtakam , Lord Surya's names and gave information about Lord Surya Bhagwaan as per our puranas .
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