India’s Harvest Festival
by Sandy Mitchell on January 14th, 2008
It’s called different things in different parts of the country. In the north, it’s Lohri; in central Indian, it’s Pongal; in the south and other places, it’s Makar Sankranthi. Throughout India, however, January 13 is the beginning of four days of celebration.
Over 70 percent of India’s population live in rural villages and are largely dependent on the food they and their neighbors grow. A good harvest means the difference between prosperity and going hungry.
The Harvest Festival is celebrated by first cleaning everything in the house, then feasting on newly harvested rice with jaggerty (boiled sugar). On the third day, the household honors cattle by adorning them with brightly colored beads and paint. The final day is to honor birds and colored balls of rice cooked for birds to eat.
In the west central province of Gujarat, the festival is known as Uttarayan and is an occasion for flying colorful kites (as pictured above).
(photo © yaatra/cc license)
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POSTED IN: Asian Holidays
