Harvest Festival

Every nation or society that depends on agriculture celebrates a variety of celebrations to mark the arrival of grains and the ripening of crops. Festivals of many kinds are observed for various harvests. Along with his diligence, the farmer views crops as a blessing and a gift from nature. He thinks that nature has given him the gift of harvests because it is pleased with his diligence. To honour the nature deity, a festival of some sort is celebrated following the harvest of each crop. The harvest festival, which is conducted to commemorate the harvest of crops, is called Crop.

As discussed in the last blog entry, The Value of Food in Our Lives, we cannot imagine our lives without food. Grain comes to mind when we think of food, and crops come to mind when we think of grain. The first foods that come to mind are lentils, rice, and wheat.

In this sense, the harvest celebration honours those who grow new crops and celebrates them. The harvest festival, which is observed in several Indian states, is one of the many festivals that honour various occasions in this multicultural nation. The harvest festivals, which are observed at different periods of the year according to farming patterns and climate, include Chaath puja, Bihu, Pongal, Lohari, Makar Sankranti, and many more. These harvest celebrations are occasions to honour the produced food. Farmers show their appreciation for Mother Earth’s bounty and the abundance of harvests in this way.

Here, we look at the upcoming harvest festival in January.

Harvest Festival: Makar Sankranti Every year on January 14th, several Indian states celebrate Makar Sankranti. Here, the sun’s transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn is significant. They fly kites, swim in sacred rivers, and eat traditional foods like gajak, tilgul, till laddu, and khichdi.

Harvest Festival: Pongal, the Festival of Harvest. The harvest festival of Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu over four days in January and February. The sun god is revered by them. People prepare delectable Pongal, adorn their homes with rangolis, and offer it to the deity. Pongal is a way to express gratitude to Mother Nature, farmers, the sun, and the many farm animals that help produce a plentiful crop.

Harvest festival: It is celebrated on January 13 every year to mark the end of winter. During Lohri, people kindle bonfires, perform folk music, and consume traditional Punjabi cuisine. The festival began with the lighting of a bonfire and the Lohri pooja, along with prayers to the Sun God and the fire, who will bless the earth. Participants puffed rice on the fire, ate popcorn, and used gur until gajak.

Essence:

“In India, a harvest festival is a traditional occasion that marks the completion of the growing season and the collection of crops. Usually, it takes place around harvest time in the fall. It consists of festivals, feasts, and religious ceremonies. Depending on the area and culture, harvest festivals have different customs and traditions, but they all include the community coming together to show gratitude for the season’s abundance and a successful harvest.“

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading!

~Preeti😊