Sankranthi, is a festival that marks the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of the Indian Sub-Continent. An interesting fact I came across while browsing the Internet was that this is the harvest festival celebrated not only in India but other South East Asian countries as well. This day also marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day.
The beautiful part about India is that every festival is celebrated in its own way in different states. Commonly knows as Pongal down south; villages in Karnataka celebrate this day by making their bulls & cows jump over burning haystacks.
Kichchu Haisodu the name given to this sport, is a tradition that these farmers have followed for hundreds of years and their belief only gets stronger with each year. About 100 miles from Bangalore in a small town near Hassan I was able to capture some moments, but some things are better experienced and its difficult to express this moment or the feelings of people celebrating this festival...
The beautiful part about India is that every festival is celebrated in its own way in different states. Commonly knows as Pongal down south; villages in Karnataka celebrate this day by making their bulls & cows jump over burning haystacks.
Kichchu Haisodu the name given to this sport, is a tradition that these farmers have followed for hundreds of years and their belief only gets stronger with each year. About 100 miles from Bangalore in a small town near Hassan I was able to capture some moments, but some things are better experienced and its difficult to express this moment or the feelings of people celebrating this festival...
Of course you go there with your camera you get specially privileges and grants to stand anywhere, however at your own risk. People are high, screaming in joy, booing people whose cattle go around the fire, kids try to chase the bull to get their garlands, balloons or for the matter any thing that they can get their hands on.
At the end of the sport it is not over yet; the most important thing begins after the fire is off and people collect the ash in huge quantities. These are then sprayed around the house in the field for a better harvest next year and keep the evil spirits away from their house and make their children brave!
I am sure a lot of organizations have major concerns about the event, however its a ritual that has been followed for hundreds of years and holds a lot of importance to the people who believe in this. It's difficult to replace such rituals specially when they happen at remote locations where people worship Rain (Jal), Fire (Agni), Air (Vaayu), Earth (Prithvi) and Sky (Aakash).
