‘Gobbiyalo…’. Thus begins the folk song that sets the mood for Sankranti festivities here, and all lines rhythmically ends with the same word.
Gobbi Patalu , a collection of folk songs rendered during Sankranti, is believed to have evolved from Gopikala Patalu , and it has striking resemblance to Tamil Nadu’s Kummi Paattu . While scholars recite Tiruppavai , a collection of 30 verses composed by Andal (Goda Devi) for 30 days ending with Sankranti, the unlettered womenfolk sing Gobbi Patalu, which is quite similar to the Tiruppavai verses. It has been a practice among people in rural areas to wake up early, make a bonfire (which is also used to boil water), take bath and sing during the season.
Women make conical-shaped objects using cow dung and place them at the centre of Rangolis in front of their homes, with ‘Thangedu’ (Avaram Senna) flowers as the topping.
Sometimes, marigold or pumpkin flowers are also used. It is a practice among women to draw a circle around Rangoli, and go around, singing Gobbi Patalu . They clap while paying obeisance to ‘Gobbemma’ and raise their hands up later to a rhythmic clap. “We sing Gobbi Patalu only during this month,” says Kakolu Siddhamma of Padipeta in Tirupati rural. ‘Gobbiyalo…’, ‘Goo Goo Goo…’ and ‘Gummadilo…’ are the widely used refrains. The songs are devotional in nature. The lyrics are region specific. “In Chittoor district, the songs are dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and Bibi Nanchari, while Krishna and Lakshmi form the base in the neighbouring Nellore,” Peta Srinivasulu Reddy, Professor of Telugu at Sri Venkateswara University, says. The theme is woven around Gauramma in coastal districts. Strangely, Gobbi songs are not so popular in Kadapa and Kurnool hinterlands.
While Gauramma in coastal districts is immersed in water at the end of the month, the ritual is almost absent in Rayalaseema districts. Interestingly, dung is made into cakes (Pidakalu) for fire, while the rice collected from people is used to make offering (Naivedyam).
With dwindling patronage, women are even forced to stop traffic on highways and demand money. “The present generation does not realise the importance of Gobbi Patalu ,” rues a woman, Siddhamma.
The folk song collection rendered during Sankranti is believed to have evolved
from Gopikala Patalu and has striking resemblance to Tamil Nadu’s
Kummi Paattu
