Mrs. Nandarani Kapali, 72 years, a resident of Lankamura, Tripura has been celebrating the festival of Makar Sankranti which also known as Poush Sankranti from last 35 years. Her husband and her daughter-in-law helps her in the preparation of the colours and the art which are drawn in most houses of Lankamura which shares its border area with Bangladesh. The place is still beyond the reach of urbanisation.
Even though the age old tradition has lost its touch, seeing the happiness in the face of the head of the family supervising their women to ease their preparation makes the festival complete and much.
With Rice powder, Turmeric Powder and different types of extract from the leaves the colour is prepared and those colours are used to decorate the art of "Alpona" which is a sacred art drawn on this auspicious occasion.
They cannot be held in your hands, they are held within your heart. Not only the women but also the members of the family irrespective of their age join their hands to make the festival of Sankranti a happy and colourful one.
Rice under the "Dheki", sound of the thumps of the pestle on it and the soil surrounded by rice powder defines the afternoon of Poush Sankranti.
The festival of praising and praying to the Sun and welcoming Goddess Laxmi begins with a kiss of morning mist upon the meadows and scent of wood smoke swirling in the air housewives make themselves busy in making the feast of patty.
With their works of art decorations, women of every house put their best on giving their house a festive look with beautiful rangolis in their front yard.
The children join their hands in the decoration and distribute the works of their parents. The tradition is thus passed from one generation to the other right from their tender age.
Most houses of Lankamura are seen decorated with rangolis, Although the urban areas are in their verge of forgetting the tradition, the rural areas have kept their traditions strong.
The children of those good old days! who knows if they are making or ruining the dome, as long as they are helping with their mischievous fun.
As the sun sets and the decorations are done, the members of the family devote their time in making the final preparations for making the dome also knows as "Burir Ghor" which will be burnt in the morning the next day which symbolises the burning of the evil and embracing the good.
A small picnic, also known as the "Chorui bhaati" is organised by the members of the family along with their neighbours to celebrate this auspicious occasion before burning of the "Burir Ghor".
