What is this event about?
This is event is all about farmers, harvest and celebration. It is a celebration by the framers to thank the nature especially sun, the equipment, the tools, the machinery and cattle for helping & providing a good harvest season in prior year and offer prayers for prosperous year ahead. In India this harvest festival is celebrated on January 14 or 15th of every year. This event is similar to Thanksgiving which is also an harvest festival that is celebrated in USA in the month of November.
What is the name of this event?
This event has different names and different ways of celebration in different states across India.
- Thai Pongal or Ulavar Thirunal in Tamil Nadu
- Suggi in Karnataka
- Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala
- Poush Sankranti in West Bengal
- Sankrant in Goa
- Sakraant Haryana
- Sakraat in Rajasthan
- Khichidi Sankranti in Uttar Pradesh
- Khichdi or Dahi Chura in Bihar
- Makar Sankrant in Maharashtra
- Makara Sankranti in Odisha
- Magh Bihu in Assam
- Maghi in Punjab
- Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarayana in Gujarat
- Uttarayani in Uttarakhand
- Uttrain in Jammu
- Shishur Senkrath in Kashmir
- Ghughuti in Uttarakhand
It is also observed in neighboring counties in the following names:
- Maghe Sankranti in Nepal
- Songkran in Thailand
- Mohan Songkran in Cambodia
- Thingyan in Myanmar
- Tirmoori in Pakistan
Is there any seasonal change?
According to tradition, the festival marks the end of winter solstice, and the start of the sun’s six-month-long journey northwards. Solar zodiac sign Capricorn referred as Makara starts on this day. Little more detail about winter solstice. It also called the hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern).
How is it celebrated?
Most states in India celebrate it as a two days event. The southern parts of India celebrate this as a four day event.
The event starts on the last day of month based on Indian solar calendar. In the Indian solar calendar on month ends on 13th of 14th day of the Gregorian calendar.
- The last day of the month in Indian solar calendar falls usually on 13th or 14th of January which is celebrated as Bhogi or Lohri. On this day, families create bonfires using paper, wood, clothes, cardboard, brooms, garbage, old mats that are no longer useful and celebrate with hand drum (Bhogi melam) & singing songs by going around the fire. On this night, most families get creative and decorate the house entrance with rice powder based Rangoli or Kolam.
- The 2nd day of the event is the first day of new month which is celebrated as Pongal or Sankranti. On this day families wear new clothes and makes different sweets popular in their region and offer prayers to Sun. In Tamil Nadu, cooking sweent pongal in clay pot and eating sugarcane is part of the celebration. In some states taking bath in a river in the early hours seems to be a routine on this day. In Gujarat and Karnataka kite flying is an exciting part in this festival. In Assam and many villages have pot-breaking games.
- The 3rd day of the event is the celebration of cows, bulls and buffalo called Mattu Pongal / Kanuma. Bulls will be part of action packed sports like Jallikattu (bull embracing), Manju Virattu (bull chasing) and Rekla race (bullock cart race) and Cows will be decorated and offered prayers and taken around the neighborhood. In coastal regions of Andhra Kodi Pandem (Rooster fighting) still happens. In Assam they entertain with buffalo fight sport.
- The 4th day of the event is the celebration among families and friends. It is called Kaanum Pongal / Mukkanuma where families go out on a day trip or plan for family reunions. It is a good break for farmers and their family who typically don’t travel much.
Download Pongal posters and social wishes
Source
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongal_(festival)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankranti
- https://www.svcctemple.org/Files/MakarSankranthi_1.html
