Makar Sankrant and Lohri

About: Lohri is celebrated on the last day of Paush month (12-13 January) In Punjab. Generally, after Lohri farmers start cutting their winter crops.

About Makar Sankrant

• Makar Sankranti is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to the deity Surya (sun).
• Makar Sankranti is observed according to solar cycles.
• It is held normally on the 14th of January, or a day before or after.
• In certain regions celebrations can go on for even four days and vary a lot in the rituals.
• It marks the – first day of sun’s transit into the Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.
• It is also celebrated as a harvest Festival.

Different names of the same festival

• Makar Sankranti – Odisha, Maharashtra-Goa, Andhra-Telengana, Kerala and most of north India
• Paush Parbon –  Bengal
• Pongal – Tamil Nadu
  • Pongal is celebrated with the distribution of new crop “Shankarai Pongal” which is basically rice cooked in milk and jiggery distributed as a Prasadam.
• Bhogali Bihu –  Assam
  • The farmers of Assam celebrate and cherish the efforts of cultivation. It marks the beginning of Assamese New Year. Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signify the distinct cycles of farming – Bhogali/Magh Bihu (January), Bohag/Rongali Bihu (April), and Kongali Bihu (October).
• Lohri – Punjab and Jammu
• Maghi – Haryana and Himachal
• Khichdi Parwa –  parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh

News Source: News on AIR