In Andhra Pradesh, the Kanuma festival is celebrated on the third day of the four-day Sankranti festival. It may also be called Mattu Pongal (festival of the cow). 

It is an important festival of Telugu people and is dedicated to cattle and other animals that are an important part of the rural economy in Andhra Pradesh. 

Govardhan puja or go pooja (worship of cows) takes place during the Kanuma festival. The cattle are bathed and decorated with paint and ornaments. They are taken to the temples and pooja is performed. 

Sankranti ends on the next day with ‘Maukkanuma’, a day of feasting and celebration. 

According to legend, on this day Lord Krishna saved the local people of Gokula who came to his rescue after there was a huge flood in the village. It is said that Lord Indra, in the form of his avatar god of rain,  was overconfident about his powers and flooded the village. Krishna picked up the Govardhan hill with his little finger and gave shelter to all the villagers in danger. Seeing the effect of his actions, Indra withdrew the heavy rains from Gokula. Krishna then offered a Govardhan puja to calm Indra.