Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has extended his Bhogi and Sankranti greetings to all the Telugu people around the world. Former CM Chandrababu Naidu too wished the state and Telugus a happy Makar Sankranti.
Chandrababu Naidu said, “Happy Bhogi and Sankranti festival to all the Telugu people all over the world. People from all walks of the life should celebrate festival happily without discrimination of rich and poor. When the Telugu Desam Party was in power, we started tradition of giving festive gifts to the poor for the first time. Along with the Sankranthi gift, we have also given festive gifts to all five crore families on the days of Ramzan and Christmas. Naidu added that Rs.350 crores were spent every year.
AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the Sankranti festival was a farmer’s festival, the festival of our sisters and a village festival. In short, it is the Telugu festival that reflects our culture and traditions.
Sankranti celebrations started across Andhra Pradesh on Saturday with ‘Bhogi’ or burning of old and unwanted items like old clothes, and broomsticks in the belief that new things will usher into their lives. People in villages and towns started the day with ‘Bhogi’ and prayers.