గద్దకు సంక్రాంతి ముందు సంకెళ్ళు
gaddaku sankranti mundu sankellu
Shackles for the kite before Sankranti
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is usually free or mischievous is suddenly restricted or disciplined just before a major event or their peak time. It refers to the traditional practice of catching or grounding kites (birds of prey) before the kite-flying festival of Sankranti to prevent them from interfering.
Related Phrases
కులం తప్పినవాడు బంతికి ముందు, కూరగాయలవాడు సంతకు ముందు
kulam tappinavadu bantiki mundu, kuragayalavadu santaku mundu
The one who lost their caste (status) is first in the dining row, the vegetable seller is first at the market.
This proverb describes people who are overly eager or arrive prematurely due to their specific needs or lack of social standing. Just as a vegetable seller arrives early at a market to secure a spot before others, a person who has been ostracized or lost status might rush to the front of a feast (pankti/row) to ensure they are served or acknowledged before being ignored.
నాయనకు పెండ్లి సంబరము, అమ్మకు సవతి సంకటము
nayanaku pendli sambaramu, ammaku savati sankatamu
The father celebrates the marriage, while the mother suffers the hardship of a co-wife.
This proverb describes a situation where one person's joy or celebration causes direct misery or hardship to another. It is used to highlight conflicting interests or cases where an action is selfishly celebrated without considering the pain it inflicts on those closest.
విశాఖ వరదలు - సంక్రాంతి మబ్బులు
vishakha varadalu - sankranti mabbulu
Floods in Visakha - Clouds in Sankranti
This proverb refers to things that are highly unlikely or completely out of season. Floods in the month of Vishakha (April/May) and cloudy skies during Sankranti (mid-January) are rare occurrences. It is used to describe unpredictable events or to express skepticism about something happening when it is not expected.
కులము తప్పినవాడు బంతికిముందు, కూరగాయలవాడు సంతకుముందు
kulamu tappinavadu bantikimundu, kuragayalavadu santakumundu
The person who lost their caste (outcast) arrives first for the feast; the vegetable seller arrives first for the market.
This proverb highlights the eagerness or anxiety of certain individuals based on their situation. Just as a vegetable seller must arrive early to secure a good spot at the market to survive, someone who has been ostracized might arrive earliest to a public gathering or feast to ensure they are not ignored or to assert their presence before others arrive. It is used to describe people who show up excessively early or with a sense of urgency due to their specific needs or insecurities.
సవతికి సంకెళ్ళు, నాకు పెళ్ళిళ్ళు.
savatiki sankellu, naku pellillu.
Handcuffs for the co-wife, weddings for me.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person rejoices or seeks personal gain from the misfortune or imprisonment of their rival or enemy. It highlights a lack of empathy and the presence of malicious joy (schadenfreude) in competitive relationships.
శివరాత్రికి జంగములు, సంక్రాంతికి హరిదాసులు
shivaratriki jangamulu, sankrantiki haridasulu
Jangamas for Shivarathri, Haridasus for Sankranti
This expression refers to the specific roles or people who appear during certain occasions. It implies that everything has its own right time and place. Just as Saivite monks (Jangamulu) are prominent during Shivarathri and Vaishnavite devotees (Haridasulu) are seen during Sankranti, certain actions or individuals are relevant only during specific circumstances or seasons.
సంక్రాంతి పండుగకు సంకెళ్ళలోని వాళ్ళూ వస్తారు.
sankranti pandugaku sankellaloni vallu vastaru.
Even those in shackles (chains) come home for the Sankranti festival.
This proverb highlights the immense cultural and emotional significance of the Sankranti festival in Telugu culture. It implies that the pull of the festival is so strong that everyone makes an effort to return to their hometown or family, suggesting that even people with extreme constraints or busy schedules find a way to be with their loved ones during this time.
ముందు సంతకే అరువు పడింది
mundu santake aruvu padindi
Already in debt from the previous market day.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is already burdened with existing problems, debts, or commitments before even starting a new task or phase. It implies that one is starting from a disadvantage or is perpetually lagging behind.
తాతా సంక్రాంతి పట్టు పట్టు
tata sankranti pattu pattu
O grandfather! Sankrânti [has arrived] catch it! catch it! Sankrânti is the transit of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricornus, when the Hindus celebrate the Pongal feast.—This is chaff ; old people observe the feast very scrupulously.
This expression is used to mock someone who is eagerly waiting for or anticipating something that is still far away, or to describe someone who is overly anxious for a future event. It implies that the person is being impatient about something that will happen in its own time.
మణులు చెక్కిన సంకెళ్లు
manulu chekkina sankellu
Fetters set with gems. Fetters still.
This expression refers to a situation where someone is trapped or restricted by luxury, wealth, or high status. It implies that even if constraints are beautiful or expensive, they are still shackles that take away one's freedom. It is often used to describe high-paying but stressful jobs or restrictive royal/elite lifestyles.