Closed-door celebrations for regional new years

VISAKHAPATNAM: All communities in Port City will be celebrating regional new year’s day in a different manner this year. In the midst of the lockdown, the festival known as Baisakhi in Punjab, Poila Boisakh in West Bengal, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Maha Bishuba Sankranti in Odisha, Vishu in Kerala and Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, will be observed indoors.
Aruna Das from Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj said, “Under the present circumstances, all Odia families celebrated on Monday at home by offering ‘pana’ to the deities and cooking traditional anna and dalma (lentil with vegetables).”
The Sikh community observed their harvest festival indoors as well.“Regular Baisakhi prayers were held at Gurudwara Sadh Sangat, Seethamadhara, by Hazuri Granthi (head priest). An online keertan group has been created and ‘Shabad Gurbani’ is being recited daily,” said SDS Anand, president of Gurudwara Sadh Sangat.
Ishita Ray, a freelance writer, said, “This year, we are celebrating things that matter the most. I am making a special spread of Bengali vegetarian dishes with sweet dry fruits pulao, channa daal with coconut, ridge gourd ‘posto’, aloo dum and semiya payesh (kheer).”
The Malayali and Tamil communities are observing Vishu and Puthandu at homes with traditional dishes such as raw mango ‘pachhadi’, rituals, setting up ‘vishukani’ (the arrangement of auspicious items) and decorating homes with ‘kolam’ (rangoli).