Sankranti celebrations observed in Eluru

Eluru: The government sponsored Sankranti Sambaralu have begun with festive fervour at an indoor stadium here on Thursday. Women and Child Welfare Minister Peethala Sujatha lighted the lamp to mark the start of the celebrations here.

District Collector Katamneni Bhaskar, ZP chairman Mullapudi Bapiraju, Government Whip Chintamaneni Prabhakar, Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu), MLC Ramu Surya Rao and other dignitaries rode the bullock-cart decorated with the flowers and colors toured in the ground to encourage the participants of Rangoli and other competitions.

Hundreds of students participated in various competitions. On occasion of the start of the festival, the Minister Sujatha, Collector K Bhaskar, ZP chairman Mullapudi Bapiraju lit the camp fire (Bogi Manta) and offered prayers at the fire.

The students performed a dance on the occasion. Various departments’ heads participated in the programme.
An exhibition that reflected the Sankranti was organised on the occasion. Rangoli, kite festival, cooking competitions were conducted on the occasion.

The Gangireddu Melam, Haridasulu stood as an added attraction to the festival programme. Former MLA Ambica Krishna, Kothapalli Subba Rayudu and other politicians also participated in the programme.

Later, the district Collector watched the Rangoli competition and praised the girl students for their performance.He also visited the stalls set up by various departments. He gave away the certificates to the winners of the Rangoli.

He blessed the children by pouring Bogi Pandlu on the children. On this occasion a body-building competition was also conducted.