Sankranti is all about joy, says Kushee Ravi

On a chilly Bengaluru morning, actress Kushee Ravi weaves through the bustling streets of Gandhi Bazaar to shop for Sankranti.

Dressed in a traditional half-sari, the actress is bursting with excitement to pick out everything she needs for the occasion. “We always celebrate Sankranti at home in full grandeur. For me, it’s always been such a fun festival and shopping is part of the reason why,” she says, as she takes us along on her spree.
Puja essentials and more
Betel leaves, banana leaves, and more, they all play a small part in the rituals, says Kushee. “We should hold our traditions close to our heart. It is a part of who we are,” the actress says, as she picks the freshest fare. Her final stop is at a shop that has it all, from incense sticks to yellu bella and dal. “This is the most important aspect of the festival. Coconuts, groundnuts, and all these dals are meant to provide heat during the cold. This is the significance of it,” she says.
'A platter of fruits for the occasion'
“No festival is complete without a platter of fruits,” says Kushee as she heads next to a fruit vendor. There, she picks up the traditional fare – some apples, bananas, oranges and pomegranates. As soon as she’s done, she spots a vendor selling sugarcane. “That anna (brother) looks sweet. Let’s go ask him how much for a sugarcane,” she says. She takes her time to choose a sugarcane and the vendor chops it into small pieces to make it easy for her to carry back home.
‘Always yes to Averekai’
“We use averekai in just about everything for Sankranti, and it’s one of my favourites,” shares Kushee, before running to the shop to get some hyacinth beans for herself.

Groundnuts, a Sankranti staple:
“Two Sankranti essentials are groundnuts and sweet potatoes,” says Kushee, and adds that in her home they are simply boiled and eaten.