Traditional Sankranti Delicacies Meet Modern Solutions As Festival Approaches

Visakhapatnam: As the Sankranti festival draws near, families in Andhra Pradesh are finding innovative ways to preserve their culinary traditions while adapting themselves to urban lifestyles.

With time constraints affecting many households, professional cooks are stepping in to prepare festive dishes, charging a wage rate between Rs 800 to Rs 4000, depending on the standard and variety of items they have to prepare.

"I prepare six dishes for Rs 1500, with each item made in quantities of 50," says Ramanaiya, a professional cook who offers home services. "We have a team that caters to requirements not just for Sankranti but also weddings and other home functions. The families or shops provide the ingredients, and we handle the preparation."

He explained that the charges range from Rs 2,500 for 10 dishes. For more, the charges are between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000.

Local restaurants are also joining the effort to preserve the region’s cultural heritage, organising food festivals from January 9 to 19 that showcase authentic Sankranti specialities. These festivals help urban residents reconnect with traditional dishes like Pindi Vantalu, which includes delicacies made from rice flour, coconut and sugar.

The significance of these dishes extends beyond mere sustenance. In South India, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Pindi Vantalu symbolizes prosperity and community bonds. The tradition of preparing these dishes has been passed down through generations, with women traditionally gathering to cook after taking ritualistic baths, creating offerings known as Prasadam (Naivedyam).

The sweep of Sankranti celebrations can be impressive. Last year, a family in Eluru district made headlines when they served their son-in-law an extraordinary feast of 379 dishes, including 40 types of dry snacks, 20 chutneys, 40 curries and nearly 100 different sweets.

Such elaborate celebrations of "Alludu Bojanam" (the son-in-law's feast) highlight the festival's role in strengthening family bonds.