Makar sankranti is also known as Uttarayan and has its own historical and religious significance in India. It is celebrated in January every year and marks the termination of the winter and the beginning of a new harvest season. It is dedicated to Lord's Son. It also refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun enters a zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. From the day of Makar sankranti, the sun begins his northward journey or Uttarayan journey therefore this festival is also known as Uttarayan. This is one of the few ancient Indian festivals that has been observed according to solar cycles while most festivals are set by the lunar cycle. Festivities associated with Makar sankranti are known by various names, Mark Bihu Nassam, Mahgi and Luri in Punjab, Hariyana, Thai pungal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat etc. Here in Karnataka it is known as Sugihabba, Makar sankranta or Makar sankranti. On this auspicious day, girls wear new clothes to visit near and dear ones with sankranti offering in a plate and exchange the same with other families. This ritual is called Eddubi Rodu. Another important ritual is display of cows and bulls in colorful costumes in an open field. Cows are decorated for the occasion and taken on a procession. They are also made to cross a fire. This ritual is common in rural Karnataka and is called Kichohai Sodhu. And that's exactly what we are going to witness today. And to do that, I am heading to a small village called Satnur which is tucked inside the Mandya district which lies between Bangalore and Mysore in southern Karnataka. It's a festival day today and the roads are pretty much empty which is typically not the case otherwise. My host for the day is Yogan and Gauda or Yogi. Who first took me to his house where he was just about to begin decorating his two oaks and prepping them up for the evening. The decoration that one does on their cattle is pretty much similar in most houses where it typically starts with cattle being given a bath and then it's usually the haunts which are decorated first. People tend to apply a coat of bright paint and in this case Yogi decided to decorate his cattle with shiny gold color. And what's a festival without a bit of makeup and a coat of talcum powder to make things more attractive. At the end of the day it's not about who decorates the cattle best but it's on its own way of celebrating whatever little that they can. Anklets also come into the picture as a part of this whole process. This is then followed up with attaching colorful ornaments, ribbons and definitely a lot of flabbers. While this is happening on the other side of the village Ningayas house as a special guest Narasemaswamy Basava, a 12 year old wild bull which has been let free in the name of the local deity Kamba the Narasemaswamy. This bull is decorated just like any other cattle in the village but this one gets an extra special treatment. Shashi, Ape and Sunil have taken up the ownership of decorating the Basava and it's definitely doesn't feel as simple as it sounds. This being a wild bull it's very aggressive and requires more hands to keep it cool while that guys are busy decorating it. In fact there was one guy whose primary job was to keep the bull calm and compost which he did so by scratching its body and talking to it continuously. And while this was happening a lot of spectators just stood and watched from a distance. It finally started off with the bull being taken to the Gramadevete Marama who is believed to be the primary protector from anything bad or evil that happens to the village. rituals happened and of course the mandatory photo session too. Why not because it's a day to celebrate and what's a celebration without some cool music. Once everything was ready the cattle started to arrive at a common place to take part in the ritual the Kichuhaesodhu which is basically the cattle jumping on a burning hay which is considered very auspicious. Ladies from the village decided to sit and witness the proceedings from a vantage point. The Bhasavar joined the other cattle as well. Its Satish and Nassapa, two seniors from the village who started the proceedings with sprinkling the Modayanna which was prepared as an offering for the Goddess Marama and performing the puja. Once the hay is lit with the fire it's a green signal for everyone who is waiting to get the cattle to jump over the fire and proceed further. And after a while the Bhasavar crossed over the fire too. Followed by some more cattle who kind of became lazy and started walking on the side way rather than on the fire. Buffalo's sheep and goats joined the party too before it got wrapped up. Villages who couldn't get their cattle for the ritual collected the ashes so that they can take it back to their home and apply to their cattle which is considered equally auspicious. Hichu Hai Soudu got signed off with the villagers bursting a few crackers in the celebration. And in the end as the final ceremony the procession of Bhasavar got taken around the main lanes of the village by Abhi, Sheshi and their friends while the bull got a final round of worshipping, puja and offerings for the day.