Visakhapatnam, Jan. 14 -- Former BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao on Wednesday said that Bhogi, the first day of the four-day Sankranti festival, is a time to discard past negativity and pray for prosperity and happiness in everyone's life.

Rao celebrated Bhogi Pongal at Andhra University grounds in Visakhapatnam, performing traditional rituals including lighting the bonfire and chanting mantras to mark the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Today marks the beginning of the four-day Sankranti festival. On Bhogi day, the first day of the festival, we pray to God to end any negativity we have experienced in the past and to bring prosperity and happiness to everyone. This morning, we lit a bonfire, chanted mantras and conducted a pooja ...