Andhra Pradesh's Legendary Hospitality Shines During Sankranti Celebrations
The 2026 Sankranti season in Andhra Pradesh once again demonstrated the region's famous warmth and generosity. Families across the state transformed the harvest festival into magnificent displays of cultural pride and culinary excellence. They particularly focused on welcoming sons-in-law with extraordinary affection, especially during their first post-marriage visits to in-laws.
Konaseema Village Sets Record with 1,374 Dish Feast
Adurru village in the lush Konaseema region witnessed an unforgettable celebration this year. Vijjapu Venkata Ratnam and his wife Sushila hosted a truly astonishing feast for their newly married daughter Keerthisri and son-in-law Boddu Sai Sharath. The couple prepared an incredible 1,374 varieties of dishes and sweets for this special occasion.
Their massive spread included traditional snacks, regional delicacies, numerous sweets, fresh fruits, natural fruit juices, and special items sourced from across Andhra Pradesh. The elaborate arrangement featured beautifully presented food accompanied by specially designed greeting boards with heartfelt messages.
As part of the traditional ritual, the hosts presented twelve special gifts to their son-in-law. Each gift symbolized one month of the year, embodying wishes for prosperity, continuity, and year-long blessings. Local residents and visitors praised this celebration as the ultimate example of Konaseema's legendary hospitality, where a son-in-law receives royal treatment.
Narsipatnam Family Serves 290 Traditional Dishes
Not far behind in scale was the heartfelt celebration in Narsipatnam near Visakhapatnam. Nalam Ramesh Kumar and Kalavathi from Shanthi Nagar served 290 varieties of traditional dishes to their son-in-law Sriharsha. This marked the first Sankranti after their daughter Lakshmi Navya's marriage.
The symbolic number 290 carried special meaning, representing Sriharsha's age of 29 with an added zero. The extensive menu emphasized traditional sweets, flour-based delicacies, savories, and Godavari-style items prepared lovingly over several days. Sriharsha appeared visibly stunned and deeply moved when he saw the grand lunch spread. Relatives and neighbors praised the family's dedication to preserving cultural traditions through this generous gesture.
Tenali Businessman Hosts 158-Variety Coastal Feast
In Tenali town of Guntur district, businessman Vandanapu Muralikrishna and his wife Madhavilata hosted an impressive feast of 158 varieties for their daughter Maunika's husband Sridatta. Since this was the couple's first Sankranti after marriage, the hosts pampered their Godavari son-in-law with exceptional care.
The complete menu was served on fresh banana leaves, featuring multiple types of pulihoras, crisp garelu, soft bobbatlu, assorted vegetable curries, pachadis, flavored dals, traditional sweets, savory snacks, and signature coastal Andhra delicacies. Each dish reflected the family's commitment to honoring their son-in-law with authentic regional cuisine.
Food as Language of Love in Telugu Culture
From the staggering 1,374 dishes in Konaseema to 290 in Narsipatnam and 158 in Tenali, these celebrations shared the same beautiful spirit. Sankranti, traditionally a festival of harvest, gratitude, prosperity and family togetherness, became the perfect occasion to express profound affection and respect for cherished sons-in-law.
In Telugu culture, food truly becomes a language of love. These families celebrated their traditions with spectacular generosity, reaffirming why Andhra Pradesh's hospitality remains legendary across India. The elaborate preparations, thoughtful presentations, and meaningful rituals demonstrated how cultural values continue to thrive through such heartfelt celebrations.
The Godavari belt and surrounding regions particularly showcased this tradition during the 2026 Sankranti season. Families went to extraordinary lengths to ensure their sons-in-law felt welcomed, respected, and valued as new members of their extended families. This cultural practice strengthens family bonds while preserving rich culinary traditions for future generations.
