Makar Sankranti, Bhogi Pandigai, Lohri, Pongal, Uttarayana, Makaravilakku and Bihu are all festivals celebrated in different parts of India, each with its own unique traditions and customs. These festivals are typically associated with the harvest season and the transition from winter to spring and are celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy.
Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated all over India, though it is especially important in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is typically celebrated on the 14th day of January and marks the beginning of the harvest season. On Makar Sankranti, people fly kites, offer prayers to the sun god, and exchange sweets and gifts with each other.
Bhogi Pandigai is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is typically celebrated on the day before Pongal, which is the main harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. On Bhogi Pandigai, people light bonfires in the streets and burn old clothes and household items to symbolize the destruction of the old and the welcoming of the new. The festival is also marked by colourful parades and other celebrations.
Lohri is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Punjab. It is typically celebrated on the 13th day of January and marks the end of the winter season. On Lohri, people gather around bonfires and offer sweets, peanuts and other treats to the fire as a way of seeking blessings from the gods. The festival is also marked by traditional songs and dances and is seen as a time of joy and celebration.
Pongal is the main harvest festival of Tamil Nadu and is typically celebrated on the 15th day of January. It is a four-day festival that coincides with Makara Sankranti and is marked by the boiling of the first rice of the season in a clay pot. On Pongal, people offer thanks to the sun god, the earth, and the farm animals for the harvest, and exchange sweets and gifts with each other.
Uttarayana is a festival celebrated all over India, though it is especially important in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It marks the transition of the sun from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere and is seen as a time of renewal and new beginnings. On Uttarayana, people offer prayers to the sun god and celebrate the lengthening of the days.
Makaravilakku is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is typically celebrated on the 14th day of January and marks the end of the pilgrimage season to the Sabarimala temple. On Makaravilakku, people gather at the temple to witness the appearance of a divine light, which is believed to symbolize the presence of the deity.
Bihu is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Assam. It is typically celebrated on the 14th day of January and marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. On Bihu, people offer prayers to the gods and celebrate the arrival of spring with traditional songs and dances.
Overall, while Bhogi Pandigai, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayana, Makaravilakku and Bihu are all harvest festivals, they each have their own unique traditions and customs. These festivals are an important part of the cultural heritage of India and are celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by people of all ages. They serve as a reminder of the abundance and prosperity that comes with the harvest season and are a time for people to come together to celebrate, give thanks, and make new beginnings.
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