Sankranthiki Vasthunam (Telugu Sankranti Essentials): A Practical, Warm Checklist for Bhogi to Mukkanuma

If you grew up in a Telugu home, you’ve heard it said with a smile and a little urgency: Sankranthiki Vasthunam. It’s the shorthand for everything that needs to “come home” before Sankranti: the groceries, the puja basics, the rangoli powder, the sugarcane, and even the small things like fresh flowers and new wicks for the lamp.

This post keeps it simple and useful. You’ll get a practical checklist (grouped so it’s easy to shop), what each item is used for, and quick planning tips across Bhogi, Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga), Kanuma, and Mukkanuma.

If you’re celebrating away from home in the US, in an apartment, or doing your first Sankranti setup, this guide is for you. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s that clean, bright, “fresh start” feeling that Sankranti brings.

What does “Sankranthiki Vasthunam” mean, and why do people say it?

In plain English, Sankranthiki Vasthunam means “the things we’re bringing for Sankranti.” In Telugu homes (especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), it often means Sankranti essentials as a whole, not only shopping. It includes:

• Cleaning and resetting the home before Bhogi
• Puja prep for the main day
• Decor like muggulu (rangoli) and mango-leaf toran
• Festival cooking, sweets, and snacks
• Visiting family, sharing food, and sometimes taking a small “vasthunam” basket to elders

People say it because Sankranti isn’t a one-hour ritual. It’s a mini-season in the house. There’s a mood shift: floors are scrubbed, corners are cleared, and the kitchen smells like jaggery, ghee, pepper, and cumin.

Sankranti also matters because it’s tied to harvest gratitude and Surya (Sun) worship. It’s when families reunite, call relatives they’ve missed, and treat the festival like a reset button for the year ahead. If you want broader context on how Sankranti is celebrated in the Telugu states, this overview is a helpful read: The Social, Cultural and Culinary Celebrations of Sankranti in the Telugu States.

One important thing to remember: every family does it a little differently. Your “vasthunam list” changes by village, budget, food habits, and how many people are coming home. The heart of it is togetherness and gratitude, not a photo-perfect setup.

The 4 Sankranti days and what you usually prepare for each one

In 2026, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is celebrated across four days, with the main day on January 14, 2026 (Bhogi on January 13, Kanuma on January 15, Mukkanuma on January 16).

Here’s a kid-friendly breakdown that also works as a planning cheat sheet:

Two quick examples of how your list shifts by day:

• Bhogi: you might need safe bonfire materials (or a symbolic alternative like lighting a small lamp and doing a “declutter” ritual if you’re in an apartment).
• Kanuma: in many villages, turmeric, flowers, and decorations are set aside for cows and bulls. Outside that setting, families still keep the gratitude theme, feeding animals where possible or donating food.

If you want a snapshot of “Pedda Panduga” traditions and the way Andhra celebrations are described in popular coverage, see: Inside Pedda Panduga Andhra Pradesh’s Makar Sankranti Celebrations, A Festive Feast Of Traditions.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam checklist: puja items, decor, and what each item is used for

Think of this checklist like packing for a trip. You don’t need everything. You need the basics that create the Sankranti feel: clean space, a small puja spot, a welcoming entrance, and festival food.

A useful way to shop is to group items by purpose:

Daily-use basics (that quietly run the whole festival): oil or ghee for lamps and cooking, fresh wicks, matchbox/lighter, paper towels, extra containers for sweets, and a few small plates for offerings.

Festival symbols: turmeric, kumkum, sugarcane, sesame, jaggery, and rice. These show up again and again, both in puja and in food.

Now, here are the key groups in detail.

Puja essentials for a simple Sankranti setup at home

You don’t need a large altar. A clean corner, a small table, and one plate can be enough. If you have photos or idols (Surya, your family deity, or a general prayer image), place them on a clean cloth and keep the area uncluttered.

Common puja basics and what they’re for:

• Turmeric (pasupu): used for auspicious markings and offerings
• Kumkum: used for tilak and prayer rituals
• Flowers (marigold is common): simple offering, adds color and fragrance
• Mango leaves: traditional “welcome” element, often used in toran and kalash setups
• Incense sticks: keeps the prayer space fragrant and calm
• Diya or oil lamp: the center of the puja, symbol of light and prayer
• Fruits: easy naivedyam (offering), also practical for sharing later
• Coconut: classic offering, used in many South Indian pujas
• Betel leaves and betel nuts: traditional hospitality and ritual item in many homes
• Rice: used in offerings and as part of the festive cooking
• Jaggery and sesame: Sankranti season staples, used in sweets and offerings

Beginner tip: if you’re unsure, keep a “small plate setup.” One diya, one flower, a pinch of turmeric and kumkum, a fruit, and a small portion of cooked sweet pongal (or any sweet you made). The point is sincerity, not scale.

Decor and welcoming touches: muggulu, mango-leaf toran, and sugarcane

If Sankranti had a “front door personality,” it would be the muggu. The entrance becomes a greeting, like the home is smiling before anyone even steps in.

Muggulu (rangoli) are traditionally drawn with rice flour. Some families use white rice flour only, others add colors. It’s often explained as a way to welcome guests and invite positive energy, and it’s also a quiet daily art form that turns into a festival highlight.

Mango-leaf toran (leaf garlands at the door) add a fresh, festive look with almost no effort. Even a small toran over the main door changes the mood of the house.

Sugarcane is the big visual symbol. It signals harvest season and abundance, and it’s also a fun treat for kids and adults. If you can’t find full stalks in your area, don’t stress. Many families celebrate with what’s available, even if it’s just sugarcane pieces from an Indian grocery store.

A fast decor plan for busy families:

• One medium muggu near the entrance (even a simple geometric pattern)
• One toran at the main door
• A small bowl of flowers near the puja spot

That’s it. Your home will still feel like Sankranti.

Food and gifts: what people cook and share for Sankranti

In many Telugu homes, Sankranthiki Vasthunam is basically a food plan disguised as a festival plan. Cooking is how the celebration becomes real. It brings people into the kitchen together, and it turns the house into a place where guests can walk in hungry and leave happy.

The food theme is harvest-forward: fresh rice, jaggery, sesame, milk, ghee, and seasonal vegetables. Meals can be simple or grand, but they usually feel special.

Must-have ingredients and classic Sankranti dishes in Telugu homes

If you’re shopping in the US, this is a practical “buy list” that covers most Sankranti cooking, even if you only make one sweet and one main dish:

• Rice (for pongal and festival meals)
• Moong dal (for pongal)
• Ghee (for flavor and aroma)
• Black pepper and cumin (for savory pongal)
• Cashews (optional, but common in sweets)
• Jaggery (bellam)
• Cardamom (for payasam and sweet pongal)
• Sesame seeds (nuvvulu)
• Milk and yogurt (depending on dishes)
• Bananas and coconut
• Vegetables for a simple curry or fry
• Sugarcane (if available)

Classic dishes you’ll see across Telugu homes:

• Sweet pongal and savory pongal (often made on the main day)
• Payasam (many styles, based on milk, vermicelli, rice, or lentils)
• Sesame-jaggery laddus (nuvvula undalu) or chikki-style bites
• Ariselu (in many families, especially where elders keep the tradition)
• A festive meal served on banana leaves (where available), which makes the meal feel instantly ceremonial

Time-saving tips that actually help:

• Prep jaggery ahead: break it up, remove any debris, and keep it ready so your syrup comes together faster.
• Soak moong dal briefly (even 15 to 20 minutes) if you want smoother sweet pongal without overcooking.

If you want dish ideas that match what many Telugu households cook, this piece is a great reference: The taste of Sankranthi: Six dishes made in Telugu households.

Gifts and sharing: what to give, and what to avoid

Gifting is part of Sankranthiki Vasthunam for many families. Some people take a small bag of sweets and fruit when visiting elders. Others send a package to relatives who can’t travel. For kids, Sankranti can feel like a mini “new clothes” moment too.

Practical gift ideas that fit the festival:

• Sweets (laddus, ariselu, or a simple homemade sweet)
• Fruits (bananas and oranges travel well)
• New clothes (even a simple shawl or saree for elders)
• Small cash envelopes for kids (common in many families)
• Useful household items for elders (warm blanket, kitchen containers)

Community sharing also fits the spirit of Sankranti. If you can, share food with neighbors, donate pantry items, or give warm clothing in winter. Keep it quiet and respectful.

A gentle “avoid” list that saves stress:

• Don’t overspend just to match someone else’s gifting style.
• Don’t compare your spread with what you see on social media.
• If you’re traveling, skip messy sweets and pick gifts that travel well.

Easy planning guide: Sankranthiki Vasthunam prep timeline and budget tips

Sankranti gets hard when everything is left to the last day. A short timeline makes it feel calm, even if you’re working full-time or celebrating with limited space.

A simple timeline so you do not forget anything

2 to 3 days before

• Quick cleaning sweep (especially entryway and kitchen)
• Write your shopping list by category (puja, decor, groceries)
• Pick your “one sweet” and “one main dish” plan

Day before

• Prep ingredients (wash rice and dal, portion jaggery, chop vegetables)
• Set up the puja spot (cloth, photos, plate, diya)
• If you do muggu, draw a light outline so you can finish fast in the morning

Festival morning

• Fresh flowers and a quick tidy at the entrance
• Light the lamp, keep the offering simple
• Cook your main dish, then enjoy the day (photos, calls, visits)

Bhogi bonfire note: if you live in the US, follow local fire rules and building policies. In many apartments, a bonfire won’t be allowed. You can still keep the spirit by decluttering old items and lighting a small lamp safely indoors.

Minimal Sankranti at home: a small list that still feels festive

If you want a Sankranti setup that fits a small apartment and a realistic budget, keep a “core kit.” It works even if you skip Bhogi bonfires and cattle rituals.

Minimal core kit

• One diya or lamp (plus oil/ghee and wicks)
• Turmeric and kumkum
• Flowers (one bunch)
• Fruit (bananas are easy)
• One coconut
• Rice, jaggery, and sesame
• One decor element (a small muggu or a simple toran)
• One sweet dish (sweet pongal or sesame-jaggery laddus)

If your home can’t support every tradition, focus on what Sankranti is really about: prayer, food, gratitude, and time with people you love.

Conclusion

Sankranthiki Vasthunam is the full Sankranti bundle, puja basics, welcoming decor, festival food, small gifts, and a little planning so the days feel joyful instead of rushed. Keep your checklist realistic, choose what fits your home, and let the festival feel warm, not stressful.

Pick your style (minimal or full), plan by day from Bhogi to Mukkanuma, and celebrate Sankranthiki Vasthunam in a way that matches your budget and your life today.

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