The Harvest Festivals Of India

India was traditionally considered as a land of farmers whose primary occupation is agriculture. This is the reason why most of the festivals and lifestyle are exclusively linked to agriculture. People rejoice, give thanks to God and nature for the harvest and beautiful life ahead.

Hindu festivals depend on the position of the sun and moon. The dates of almost every festival of Hindus vary each year, but 14 January is fixed to celebrate Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal and Bihu festivals.

The festivals celebrated on and around 14th January are Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal and Bihu.

These festivals are to welcome the spring season and the new harvest. They mark the end of the winter season. This gives lots of reasons to rejoice, enjoy and have fun.

Lohri : Lohri is celebrated on the evening of 13th January every year. It is celebrated in almost entire northern India. People wear traditional clothes and dance around a bonfire. Folk songs are sung and women put popcorns in the fire, people also distribute sweets, peanut chikkis and rewdi.

In this festival, fire is worshipped because "fire is the symbol of power". One of the best things about Lohri is that it offers a great opportunity to interact with family and friends. Lohri celebrates fertility and help people feel the real joy of life.

Pongal: Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and almost all through South India. It four-day harvest festival and it is kind of thanksgiving to nature.

The first day is celebrated in the honour of Lord Indra, the God of rain. On the season, day, rice is cooked in milk in an earthen pot outside the house. The third-day of Pongal is pongal for cows and on on fourth-day women perform ritual before bathing and prays for their brothers to prosper.

Makar Sankranti: On this day the entire period right from sunrise to sunset is considered holy and important. It is believed that this day yields the best fruits.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. Men and women take bath preferably in a holy river and then offer sweets made of sesame seeds to God which is then distributed among family, friends and people who visit their house.

Magh Bihu: Bihu is the most important festival of Assam. People celebrate Bihu by paying respect to elders.

Traditionally Bihu was celebrated with Bihu dance, a specific form of dance, which was performed by a group of youths who used to go from house to house. However, with time, now cultural festivals are organized and they are based on Bihu songs and dance.