Which festival is also known as the kite festival? holi diwali pongal makar sankranti

Diwali and Holi hog the limelight in terms of Indian festivals, probably because of the glitz, colors, and light. The reality is that the cultural diversity of the country really comes to the fore in the middle of January when festivities are at their peak around the country. Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal are celebrated in this period (January 13 to 17th). Each of these festivals has its own cultural significance, history, and most importantly connection with mother nature. The festivals mark the end of the peak winter cold, the arrival of new crops, and herald the prosperity in the land. As the sun begins its northward journey, the festivities fill the air across the country. Different states in India celebrate these festivals in their own style & customs, but one thing is common – the respect for nature and the act of spreading love. The rituals of Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal along with other festivals in this period are about paying reverence to those aspects of nature on which human life & livelihood depends. Each Indian state celebrates the festival in its own styles and customs. Lohri (~13th January) Lohri (Image: Freepik) Lohri is celebrated primarily in northern parts of the country. This is the festival to announce the arrival of the harvest season. People come together to thank the Sun God and give offerings to the fire. The celebration includes singing songs that are dedicated to nature and dancing around the bonfire with friends and family. The fire is fed ...

Major Festivals of India In this article, we have briefly discussed the major National, Religious, Harvest and Seasonal festivals. Introduction: Festivals are occasions of celebrations focused on some specific aspects. Festivals in India are celebrated with great passion and joy. Even the foreigners who arrive in India get overwhelmed after watching the Indian festivals. In India, numerous numbers of festivals are celebrated. Three types of festivals are mainly celebrated in India such as National, Religious and Seasonal. Each festival has its own significance and teachings. 1. National Festivals are celebrated with proud and have super-patriotic fervor. Republic day, Independence day and Gandhi Jayanti are the three national festivals of India. 2. Religious Festivals shows the religious association of people with the festival. The major religious festivals includes Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Krishna Janamastami, Durga-Puja, Dussehra, Maha Shivaratri, Eid, Christmas, Easter, Buddha Purnima, Mahavir Jayanti, etc. 3. Seasonal and Harvesting festivals are celebrated to mark the harvesting of crops and the change of seasons. The major seasonal and harvesting festivals that are celebrated in India includes Basant Panchami, Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam, Baisakhi, Bhogali bihu, etc. 1. National Festivals in India 1.1 Republic Day th January every year. On this day, i.e., 26 th January, 1950, India’s constitution came into force. This day is important because on this da...

Hindu holidays commemorate a particular deity, season or event in history, but do not necessarily fall on a specific day every year as the Hindu calendar is lunar. Many Hindu Americans belong to different sampradaya (sects) and/or parampara (lineages), which may determine specific days of spiritual importance not included in this list. In addition, practicing Hindus may request specific accommodations or time off to complete sacred rites of passage, or may be observing a specific diet or fast. Below is a list of some of the more widely celebrated Hindu holidays and days of significance to Dharma traditions for accommodation, observation, and celebration. You may also download the PDFs which include a condensed, single page calendar, as well as the comprehensive guide. The birthday of Swami Vivekananda, known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, is honored as a regional holiday in the Indian state of West Bengal and as National Youth Day by the Government of India on January 12th each year. The day commemorates and recognizes his contributions as a modern Hindu monk and respected guru of the Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism. The day that Swami Vivekananda delivered his speech at the Parliament of Religions is known as ‘World Brotherhood Day.’ Swami Vivekananda brought Hindu teachings and practices — such as yoga and transcendental meditation —to Western audiences. Used to mark the coldest day of the year, Lohri (LOH-ree) signifies the start of winter solstice and is followed by the ...

It’s that time of the year when we devour crispy gajaks and til ladoos to our heart’s content. It’s Makar Sankranti, one of India’s most beloved festivals. January 14 is an important day in the Indian calendar. While some states observe it as Uttarayan and Makar Sankranti, others observe Pongal and Bhogali Bihu on this day. Makar Sankranti marks the entry of the sun into the Northern Hemisphere and also signals the end of winter. People across the country not only pray for a good harvest on this day but also take holy baths, fly kites, eat Here are 7 cities that are famous for their Makar Sankranti celebrations Jaipur Image: Shutterstock Jaipur’s sky is dotted with thousands of colourful paper kites as families gather on rooftops playing loud music and watching kite fights. Jaipur has an incredible history of kite flying. It was started during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. During those days, a special kite called tukkal used to be made from fine cloth. Even today, the royal family of Jaipur gathers on the terrace of the city palace to enjoy the age-old tradition of kite flying. The tourism department of the Ahmedabad Image: Shutterstock Gujarat celebrates Makar Sankranti in the form of Uttarayan. Known as the kite capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad welcomes tourists for the International Kite Festival every year. The festival is held on a large ground by the banks of the river Sabarmati. Prominent old localities of Hyderabad Image: Shutterstock Hyderabad is another ...

For many Hindus, mid-January is the time for India’s winter harvest celebrations. A seasonal observance that is also religiously significant, the festival is commemorated throughout India under different names. In the northwestern state of Punjab it is called Lohri . In other parts of northern and central India it is known as Makar Sankranti . And in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it’s referred to as Pongal . Download our 1) Lohri Observed by both Hindus and Sikhs in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lohri traditionally marks the last of winter’s coldest days, and is therefore a festive welcome of longer ones. For much of India, the winter crops are corn and wheat, which are sown in October. Thus, when the fields start cropping up with little grains in January, Hindus celebrate as a way of giving thanks for the upcoming “golden” harvest. During the festivities, fires are built to not only keep warm, but also to honor Surya (the sun god) and Agni (the god of fire), in hopes that they will look after the well-being of loved ones. Representing energy and spiritual strength, fire is a source of rejuvenation and renewal, and is believed to burn away sadness and negativity. Often referred to as the “Bonfire Festival” or the “Festival of Farmers,” this is a time to be thankful and socialize around the fire with festive songs and dances to welcome the arrival of gradually longer days. Some believe the word Lohr...