The festival of harvest followed according to the Dravidian calendar Lohri, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal is celebrated across India. Harvest Festival, the start of the New Year, end of the Winter are a few common things all these festivals share.
Lohri is celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti and it signifies the end of the winter solstice. Lohri is celebrated across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and other North Indian states. Lohri is a celebration with reverence to fire and the sun God or the Goddess of Lohri. The celebration often starts with collecting/harvesting the Rabi crops. The history of Dulla Bhatti is also spoken along with the celebrations highlighting the historical significance behind the festival. Generally, Lohri is celebrated with a bonfire, which is a very important part of the tradition. Consumption of sheaves of roasted corn, sugarcane, Gajak, nuts, and sesame seeds is common.
Pongal falls on the principal month of the Tamil Almanac. Pongal and Makar Sankranti follows the same pattern of celebrations while Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Western region down to the South and Pongal is celebrated across Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Karnataka. A very traditional way of celebrating the festival would be taking a heavenly plunge in streams signifying washing away of the sins. Tamilians celebrate Pongal with a signature dish called Pongal made of a sweet mixture of rice, moong dal, jaggery, and milk.
Divided by names yet united by hearts and significance of the celebration of harvest is a nationwide event in India. This event not only holds various fun events for all age groups but also has deep-rooted traditional, religious, and historical references. Praying to Sun God, Goddess of Lohri, a tribute to livestock, commencement of harvest, washing away past sins, entering into a New Year, and many more can add significance to the festival.
We, Crazy Creatives are very much happy to wish IFians a very happy Lohri, Pongal.
Cr: Serpensortia
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