India is a country full of fun and colorful festivals. Among them, many thanksgiving festivals held in January celebrate the growth and harvest of crops and have the meaning of opening a new year.
During this period, people in India express their gratitude for grains and fruits, which are the best gifts nature gives to humans, and have time to enjoy delicious food, sing, and dance to praise farmers for their hard work for a year.
As India boasts a wide range of biodiversity, 29 states enjoy various forms of Thanksgiving. Today, we will take a look at four famous events among these festivals.
• Makar Sankranti: Northern State
• Lohri: Punjab Province
• Bihu: Assam State
• Pongal: Tamil Nadu State
Makar Sankranti – end of winter, start of spring.
Date: January 14, 2023
Makar Sankranti is a festival mainly enjoyed in northern India such as Delhi, Gujrat and Haryana.
It is said to have its roots in rural, rural areas, marking the first day of the sun's transit into Capricorn, the end of a short winter day.
As the cloudy days end and sunny days begin on this day, people fly kites and enjoy the festival by tasting sesame seeds (tilladu), jaguar sweets (Gajak), and rice cakes of various colors.
Bihu – Festival with Rice
(Date: January 14th)
Bihu is a festival mainly enjoyed in Assam.
In order to pray for blessings to the ancestral spirits and celebrate the fruits of their hard work for the year, the people of Assam enjoy festivals with various gatherings and prayers to the gods.
Traditional dishes are also not to be missed. A variety of dishes are prepared for breakfast and lunch, such as a variety of fish, lamb and duck curries. At this time, various snacks and cakes are said to be made from Assam's new rice!
Lohri – Festival of Shining Sun and Fire
(Date: January 14th)
Lohri is a celebration of the harvest of ravi (an early spring crop) and the end of winter, mainly in Punjab.
A time to worship the sun and fire and to give thanks for a good harvest, characterized by traditional movements and tunes, it usually precedes Makar Sankranti.
During the festival, people build a large bonfire and gather around it to perform small rituals and give thanks to the gods, celebrating the lengthening of daylight hours as the sun moves north.
Pongal – a simmering sweet feast
(Date: January 15th)
Pongal is another name for Makar Sankranti, celebrated by the Tamil community in South India.
This festival is also a time to show appreciation for the sun, nature and the various livestock that contribute to bountiful harvests. It is said to be one of the most colorful festivals held over four days in India and is the most popular in Tamil Nadu.
The name of this festival is said to be derived from the ceremonial 'Pongal' meaning 'to boil, to overflow'. It also refers to a traditional food prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled with jaguar (raw sugar) in milk, which is said to be first offered to the gods as a token of gratitude.