Pawan Kalyan recently spoke to crowds in his constituency, where the film star in him briefly surfaced. Speaking in the Godavari accent, he recalled friends joking about Sankranti meaning cock fights and card games rather than a festival rooted in tradition.
He said it was surprising that some of his friends from Telangana travel to Bheemavaram or East Godavari during Sankranti only to gamble or attend cock fights. While he said he does not object to people enjoying themselves, he stressed that this is not the true spirit of the festival.
Pawan Kalyan warned that forgetting the meaning of Sankranti amounts to forgetting culture itself. Referring to Macaulay, he said a nation loses its identity when its culture is weakened. He added that Sankranti should revive traditions and reflect its real purpose.
He said the festival should be celebrated across all constituencies in the state to restore its original spirit. According to him, Sankranti must focus on culture, community and harvest, not betting or gambling activities.
His supporters have praised the speech widely. However, it remains to be seen whether people will truly embrace the cultural essence of Sankranti instead of associating it with cock fights and card games.
In recent years, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh has often become synonymous with gambling. The state government’s Sankranti festival in the Godavari districts could serve as an eye opener for restoring the festival’s true meaning.
