Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh celebrated Bhogi, the first day of the Sankranti festival, with religious devotion and traditional enthusiasm on Wednesday, as bonfires were lit across temples, villages and towns, marking the beginning of the harvest festivities. Andhra celebrates Bhogi with devotion, traditional fervour The premises of the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple glowed with spiritual grandeur as the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams organised traditional Bhogi bonfires in and around the Srivari Temple complex, following age-old customs. “As Sankranti celebrations commenced, devotees from across the country thronged the hill shrine, with many expressing joy and spiritual fulfilment after having darshan of Lord Venkateswara,” an official from TTD told PTI on Wednesday. People across Prakasam district and other districts celebrated Bhogi in the early hours of the day by lighting traditional bonfires, symbolically discarding old and unwanted items to welcome a fresh beginning. Bhogi bonfires were witnessed in villages across the districts, residents gathered street by street to light the fires and celebrate the festival in a festive atmosphere. Speaking to PTI, several residents said they returned to their …