History and Art and Culture
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
