16 January 2026 is Mukkanuma (Pashuvula Panduga). Mukkanuma is the final, fourth day of Makara Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and some parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Mukkanuma is celebrated on the next day of Kanuma. It is celebrated as Kaanum Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Kanuma and Mukkanuma are also known as ‘Pasuvula Panduga’ (Festival of Cattle) in Telugu.
Pasuvula Puja (worshipping cattle) is the main ritual on Mukkanuma. Kodi pandaalu (cockfight) and eddula pandaalu (bullock cart races) are the blood sports (a gamble of crores of rupees) associated with Sankranti in some Coastal district of Andhra Pradesh.
Hindupad condemns this type of fake rituals and request all to avoid such violence on animals.
Key features of Mukkanuma:
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It follows Kanuma Panduga, which is dedicated to cattle worship and is the third day of Sankranti.
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People worship their cattle and offer gratitude for their role in farming and livelihood.
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Traditional sports like cockfighting (Kodi pandaalu) and bullock cart races (eddula pandaalu) have historically been part of some regional celebrations, although there is growing advocacy against animal cruelty associated with these events.
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It is a day of feasting and merry-making, marking the joyful end of the harvest festival period.
Thus, Mukkanuma is both a culturally rich and agriculturally significant festival that honors livestock and symbolizes community togetherness during the Sankranti festival season.