Devotees perform puja to a cow at the Ramanarayanam temple in Vizianagaram on Saturday to mark the Mukkanuma festival. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT
The festive fervor continued in rural areas of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts on Saturday as it was a weekend, allowing many professionals and others who had returned to their native places to extend their Sankranti celebrations. Mukkanuma, observed the day after Kanuma, has special significance in villages where cows and oxen are decorated and worshiped as members of the family.
Representatives of the Ramanarayanam Temple, Narayanam Ramayya and Narayanam Srinivas, along with former University Vice-Chancellor Dr. BR Ambedkara, Hanumanthu Lajapathirai, CGI Global Director Madanmohan Mogili and others performed gopuja in the cow shed at Ramanarayanam Temple in Vizianagaram. Dr. Speaking on the occasion, Lajapathirai said that protection of cows and oxen is the need of the hour and celebrating Kanum and Mukkanum will help the young generation to understand their importance in daily life.
Cattle play a vital role in rural economy and cultural life and hence villagers decorate them and offer prayers during Kanuma and Mukkanuma, he said, adding that cattle are considered part of the family in village society.
Meanwhile, roads across Vizianagaram and Srikakulam wore a deserted look on Saturday as people preferred to stay indoors and celebrate the festival days with family members. Crowds at theaters were also relatively thin as tickets for most releases were largely sold through e-commerce portals.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 18:11 IST