Celebrating the Festival of Harvest - January 14

भारत समृद्ध संस्कृति और विविधता की भूमि है, जहां लोग हर त्योहार समान उत्साह से मनाते हैं. जनवरी 14^th ऐसा ही एक विशेष दिन है, जिस दिन फसल कटाई का उत्सव मनाया जाता है. भारत के विभिन्न राज्यों के लोग इस दिन को पूरी धूमधाम और जोश से मनाते हैं. एक ही उद्देश्य वाले एक ही दिन को अलग-अलग नामों से मनाना, ऐसा केवल भारत में ही हो सकता है, यही तो भारतीय संस्कृति की विशेषता है जो इतनी विविधता के बावजूद एक है.

पोंगल

This festival of harvest is celebrated in the Southern state of India Tamil Nadu. This day here marks the beginning of reaping season and the withdrawal of monsoon season. The celebration involves cooking of a sweet dish made of rice called Pongal, from where the festival derives its name. On this day, people also pay respect to their cattle by adorning them with flower garlands, applying turmeric, vermilion and sandal paste on their forehead.

मकर संक्रांति या उत्तरायण

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the western state of India Gujarat. This day marks the arrival of harvest season. People show their respect to the Sun on this day. The celebration includes flying kites (Uttarayan) since the sunrise, cooking Undhiyu & Jalebi and worshiping the Sun God.

लोहड़ी

Lohri is celebrated in the northern state of India Punjab. The Punjabis mark the occasion of the onset of harvesting season on a day before January 14^th. On January 14^th, people in Punjab celebrate Maghi, which is considered the new financial year for the farmers. The celebration includes flying kites, lighting bonfires, offering prayers to God, bathing in holy rivers, dancing to the tunes of bhangra & gidda and cooking sweet dish Kheer.

बिहू

It is the chief festival celebrated in the north-eastern state if India Assam. The celebration of Bihu in the month of January is known as Maagh Bihu. This marks the beginning of the change of seasons. The celebration mainly includes cooking variety of dishes and dancing to the tunes of folk songs. Other regions in India also celebrate the festival of harvest for example in West Bengal, people celebrate this day as Poush Parbon and as Sakraat in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Crops are the most precious investment made by the farmers and their primary source of income. But many times their harvest gets damaged due to natural calamities or any other cause. Therefore, Government of India has now launched प्रधानमंत्री फसल बीमा योजना, which provides agricultural insurance in India. You can visit our website to know more about this policy that has been created keeping the well-being of farmer s as the main aim.