India Celebrates Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, and Magh Bihu
India, the land of festivals, is currently celebrating Makar Sankranti, an occasion that reflects the rich cultural diversity of the country and is known by a number of names across the country, including Pongal, Bihu, Maghi, or Magh Bihu. India celebrates four winter harvest festivals: Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, and Magh Bihu.
Makar Sankranti, one of the most auspicious holidays, in honor of the Hindu sun god Surya. The Vedic writings, especially the Gayatri Mantra, a revered Hindu hymn found in the Rigveda, are where Surya’s significance may be traced. This celebration marks the beginning of spring, a significant juncture in the agricultural and astronomical cycles. Celebrated with great fervor throughout India, the festivities include kite flying, traditional feasts, and holy river bathing.
The Story tells, Makar(a) Sankranti is the only Hindu holiday that is based on the solar calendar rather than the lunar one. Makar Sankranti is regarded as an auspicious time of year, commemorating the sun’s journey from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere. Sankranti means “transition,” while Makar means “Capricorn.”
New harvests are revered and joyfully shared throughout the celebration, which also signifies the start of the harvest season. It marks the official end of winters and the beginning of the Sun’s transition from the Dakshinayana (South) to the Uttarayana (North) hemispheres, which signals a change in season. This unique celebration marks the end of winter and the start of a new harvest season.
In addition, the day emphasizes dedication and charity, and the joyful mood is enhanced by traditional foods like khichdi and sesame-jaggery laddus. On this day, kite flying is a popular ritual that symbolizes vivid vitality.
Pongal
Tamils celebrate Pongal, a multi-day Hindu harvest festival. Tamil people claim that the Hindu holiday, known by a variety of regional names across the Indian subcontinent, is devoted to Surya, the solar deity of Hinduism. Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanum Pongal are all observed on consecutive days during the three or four-day celebration.
It is a festival that celebrates the bounty of nature, the importance of agriculture, and the spirit of togetherness. The festive atmosphere, the delicious food, and the vibrant colours make Pongal a truly memorable occasion. In Tamil, Pongu means ‘to boil over,’ and it is from this term that Pongal was derived.
The harvest festival of Lohri is celebrated with a lot of fanfare and ceremony. This Punjabi celebration honors the success of agriculture as well. As the days grow longer than the nights, this celebration signals the end of winter. Since it signifies the end of winter and the harvest of the rabi crops, the celebration of Lohri is quite important. The people give thanks to the fire and the sun for the bountiful harvest and worship them. Every community observes the day under a different name.
According to the mythology of Lohri, a dacoit named Dulla Bhatti lived during the reign of Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century. He became a hero to the common people because of his reputation for robbing the wealthy and aiding the underprivileged. As a result, on the day of Lohri, he is still honored with folk melodies.
Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu, the annual harvest festival, was celebrated with traditional zeal in Assam. People burned Meji bonfires, which were composed of dried banana leaves, hay, green bamboo, and firewood. Elders bestowed blessings on young people, strengthening ties throughout the family. The happy celebrations were marked by the holding of traditional sports throughout the state, including Tekeli Bhanga, egg-breaking competitions, cockfights, and buffalo battles.
This also known as Bhogali Bihu, marks the conclusion of the harvest season around the middle of January. Following the yearly harvest, the community gathers for feasts during this event, which is celebrated with enthusiasm and customs.
President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her warmest greetings on the festive occasions of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu to people both domestically and overseas.
The President posted on X, “On the auspicious occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Magh Bihu, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all Indian people living in the country and abroad. These festivals are a symbol of our rich cultural heritage and unity in diversity. These festivals celebrated in different regions of India express respect for nature. These festivals related to agriculture are also opportunities to express gratitude to our farmers for their tireless hard work. I wish that this holy festival brings happiness and prosperity in the life of every person.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the country with joy as they celebrated the holidays of Makar Sankranti and Magh Bihu, which represent heavenly changes and agricultural plenty. He shared his thoughts in a post on X, ‘Best wishes on Magh Bihu. We celebrate nature’s bounty, the joy of harvest, and the spirit of togetherness. May this festival enhance happiness and unity.‘