Rise of community-driven cultural events for Sankranti in Hyderabad

(file photo) Gangireddula aata
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Makara Sankranti, which falls on January 14, is a nostalgic return to the roots. Roads in Hyderabad empty out on the weekend as city dwellers travel to their hometowns to celebrate the harvest festival. However, those who stay back due to work commitments or are new to the city can soak in the festive spirit through specially curated sessions. Blending tradition, culture and vindu bhojanam (festive food), these community-driven events offer a glimpse of village life in an urban setting.

Natural setting

The lush 17-acre Nagaratnam Naidu Farm near Ramoji Film City sets the stage for Sankranthi Sambaralu 2025 on January 11. Having lived in Hyderabad for three years now, Rambabu Ponnana, the organiser and founder of Navnirmaan Foundation Charitable Trust missed the community celebrations in his village, Kotabommali, in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. Sankranti was more than a festival, he recalls. “We would reconnect with old friends, play traditional games, watch a movie or stay up all night talking about our lives. I missed that sense of community,” says Rambabu, explaining the inspiration behind launching Sambaraalu in 2024.

Last year’s event, with 650 participants including families and children, motivated him to organise it again this year with an expanded line-up. The one-day celebration begins at 5 am with bhogi mantalu followed by a kite festival, tug of war in muddy waters, cultural events by Gangireddulu and Haridasu, festive food, sannayi melam (shehnai), muggula poteelu (rangoli competition), music sessions, and a gussadi dance by a troupe from Adilabad. “The line-up showcases the cultural richness of both Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” Rambabu adds.

To foster togetherness

For over 15 years, Shilparamam in Madhapur has been synonymous with traditional showcases during the harvest festival. This year, the crafts village once again beckons visitors for the celebrations. A few kilometres away in Shamirpet, The Earth’s Camping gears up for its Sankranti Special Camping on January 11 and 14, offering two-day celebrations to accommodate people with different week-offs.

Rooted in the concept of community living, the camping site aims to integrate this ethos into festive celebrations as well. “We build and nurture community at our camp site. Celebrating festivals here fosters togetherness, allowing people to find joy in shared experiences,” says advocate and co-founder S Tejasri. She adds, “This co-living approach helps people from other cities in Hyderabad discover a new culture while reviving the festive spirit for those who can’t travel home to celebrate with family and friends.”

Featuring vibrant marigold decorations and intricate muggulu, the curated event also includes a storytelling session by octogenarian Ravindra tatayya (as he is fondly called) from Narayanpur village on the significance of Sankranti celebrations. “It’s about understanding our roots and why and how we celebrate.”

Community-driven celebrations have long been a part of Hyderabad’s cultural calendar. Among those championing these events is Ram Babu, popularly known as Millet Ram Babu, who has been documenting traditional food systems and creating awareness about millets for 15 years.

From 2013 to 2019, his cousin Vemulapalli Leela’s one-acre farmhouse, Nirvana, near Chilkoor village (about 28 km from Hyderabad), served as the venue for these festive gatherings. With a new theme each year, the event attracted 2,000 participants annually. “Our festivals are connected to Nature,” says Ram Babu. “Sankranti is a thanksgiving harvest festival celebrating grains and agriculture and represents abundance. The days surrounding it—Bhogi, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma—remind us of Nature’s significance in our lives.

These community celebrations not only revive traditional festivities but also strengthen connection to cultural roots. “Through entertainment, we educate people about our culture, traditions and food,” says Ram Babu.