HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN COUNTRY

HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN COUNTRY

Context

The harvest festivals like Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal celebrated all across the country.

About Pongal Festival

• It is also referred to as Thai Pongal.
• It is a multi-day Tamil harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community.
• It is observed at the start of the month Tai according to Tamil solar calendar.
• It is dedicated to the sun god, the Surya, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival under many regional names celebrated throughout India.
• The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal.

About Makar Sankranti

• Makar Sankranti denotes the entry of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn) as it travels on its celestial path.
• The day marks the onset of summer and the six months auspicious period for Hindus known as Uttarayan – the northward movement of the sun.
• As a part of the official celebration of 'Uttarayan', the Gujarat government has been hosting the International Kite Festival since 1989.
• The festivities associated with the day is known by different names in different parts of the country — Lohri by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs, Sukarat in central India, Bhogal Bihu by Assamese Hindus, and Pongal by Tamil and other South Indian Hindus.

TYPES OF BIHU IN ASSAM

Aout Lohri

• Lohri is primarily celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus. It marks the end of the winter season and is traditionally believed to welcome the sun to the northern hemisphere.
• It is observed a night before Makar Sankranti, this occasion involves a Puja Parikrama around the bonfire with prasad.
• It is essentially termed as the festival of the farmers and harvest, whereby, the farmers thank the Supreme Being.