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Gangireddu Aata or "the bull play"
is a very popular form of dance in Andhra
Pradesh. It is a common site in every village. The Gangireddu Aata
is perhaps one of the very few rural entertainment that has survived
through times.
The Bull Event
'Gangireddu'
is a multicoloured decorated bull moving from one house to the other led
by its master who plays the 'Nadaswaram' during Sankranti. Bulls are
trained to dance or perform acrobatics to entertain the crowd. The
training is given by 'Yadava' sect they acquire bulls and train them. The
Gangireddu earn money, clothes and grains in return to the performance,
and are active during the
Sankranti
and Dusshera festivals.
The feats of the Gangireddu (bull) are indeed pleasing. The Gangireddu can
dance rhythmically, nod in acceptance, deny in negation, kneel down and
prostrate, bow down and even stretch its tongue to show it can sing. It
can put its four legs in a plate or exhibit more enterprising feats such
as standing on its master's chest and bowing down in reverence when he
sings in praise of a donor.