Bengaluru: For a day, Bengaluru traded its city pace for the slow, sunlit moods of the countryside as Sankranti celebrations unfurled Karnataka’s agrarian traditions across Jakkur Grounds. Suggi Huggi — a community Sankranti festival organised by revenue minister and Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byregowda — turned the urban stretch into a slice of rural life, drawing large crowds eager to reconnect with the rhythms of a harvest season.Rooted in the state’s farming heritage, the event showcased village arts and rituals through folk performances, rangoli, rural games, handicrafts and festive customs. Families and senior citizens turned out in large numbers, celebrating farmers, harvest, and community life in the heart of the city.Day one opened with cultural and dance performances, followed by pot-breaking contests and kabaddi matches that evoked the energy of village fairs. Kite-flying and bullock-cart rides added nostalgia, while the Vasavi Avarebele Mela drew visitors with fresh produce and traditional Sankranti delicacies.As dusk settled, the festival shifted into a lively evening — the Barfi Band drawing an enthusiastic crowd and turning the grounds into a music-soaked space.Theatre added depth to the celebrations, with Prabhat Arts’ acclaimed production “18 Days – Dusk of an Era” standing out as a key highlight. Inset 1 (to go with her mugshot)Meenakshi Krishna Byre Gowda – Organiser, Suggi Huggi, and social worker“We wanted to bring the essence of rural Karnataka to the city. The festival lets children and families witness how Sankranti was celebrated in villages. It’s a community celebration connecting urban residents to culture, farmers and local artisans.”————-——–—-———————What the visitors saidShivakumar H A, 46, Sampigehalli“Bengaluru is becoming increasingly urbanised, and many traditional festivals are slowly fading away. Events like this help revive the village atmosphere that we have missed. The rural games, cattle displays, and various activities were both enjoyable and nostalgic. My family had a great time, especially my children, who loved the bullock cart and bike rides.”Antima Saini and Prisha V, mother and daughter from Thanisandra (from North Delhi)“We wanted to experience the local culture and traditions, and this event gave us that opportunity. And I want my kids to experience the same as well.”Dr Reddappa HM, 52, professor, Jakkur“These rural traditions remind us of our childhood, something today’s children rarely experience. Coming from a farming family, harvest season always meant festivals and celebrations. The bullock cart decorations and rituals brought back fond memories from my younger days.”Archana Deshmukh, 45, and Kamalesh D, 53, from Manyata Tech Park“There are so many cultural activities here, and we really enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Preserving culture is important, and events like this make it possible. We feel celebrations here are even more vibrant, with something for everyone. It’s a great place to celebrate culture and even special occasions.”Bhushan Nagendra, software professional, Jayanagar 6th Block“This event brings out Karnataka’s culture beautifully. People from across the country live in this area, and such programmes help them connect with local traditions. From puja rituals to eating sugarcane and groundnuts, it brings us closer to our roots. I travelled all the way from south Bengaluru to attend this — it’s my fourth visit.”Sister Tanvi M (6th class) and her brother Maurya M (2nd class)“We enjoyed the festivities last year and came back again for the same experience. At home, Sankranti is usually limited to Pongal, but here we saw so many things — from decorated bullock carts to bamboo structures. Kite flying was our favourite, and we also got to taste many traditional food items.”N Sinchana, Spandana and Nidhi Vineed, Vishwaranyapura“We liked the dance performances the most. Each performance represented culture in a different way, with unique styles and themes. It was interesting to see such diversity on 1 stage.”
