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You are here : home > Indian Culture > Indian Festivals and occassions > Significance of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Bihu

Significance of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Bihu

Significance of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Bihu

Hindu festivals depend on the position of 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. Read on to learn more about the festivals.
Hindu festivals offer great opportunities to people to absorb the positive energy and true ideologies from deities. Therefore, it is very important to know about the festivals, their significance and how they are celebrated. Following the actual and spiritual way of celebrating festivals, we can get the maximum benefit of them. They help us purify ourselves and also our environment.
The festivals celebrated on and around 14th January are Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal and Bihu. The main intention of celebrating these festivals is to welcome spring season and the new harvest. They mark the end of the winter season and give lots of reasons to rejoice, enjoy and have fun.

Lohri

Lohri is celebrated on the evening of 13th January every year. Initially people of Punjab used to celebrate this festival, but today, 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. While dancing and enjoying the special dance form of Punjab, bhangra, people also distribute sweets, peanut chikkis and rewdi.
Although Lohri is celebrated and means a lot for almost all age group of people, it is specifically a festival meant for youths. 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.

Makar Sankranti

The main intention of celebrating Makar Sankranti is to raze the difference and spread love among neighbours and community. People distribute sweets and this brings them close to each other. 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 homes.
On this day the entire period right from sunrise to sunset is considered holy and important. This is the reason why people donate things and perform meritorious acts this day because it is believed that this day yields the best fruits. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India.

Pongal

Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and almost all through South India. It is a 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 second day rice is cooked in milk in an earthen pot outside the house. The third day of pongal is Pongal for cows and on the fourth day women perform ritual before bathing and pray for their brothers to prosper.

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.
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 with agriculture. People rejoice, give thanks to God and nature for the harvest and beautiful life ahead.

How is Lohri celebrated? What is the significance of Makar Sankranti and Pongal? In which region of India is Bihu festival celebrated? Discuss here.



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