EdGe - Your Grooming Partner

EdBlogs

How is Sankranthi Celebrated Differently Across Various States in India?

Sankranthi, one of India's most significant harvest festivals, is a celebration of the sun's journey towards the northern hemisphere, marking the beginning of longer days and warmer temperatures. While the festival is observed across the country, each state has its unique traditions, customs, and ways of celebrating Sankranthi. As we traverse the country, let's delve into the diverse ways Sankranthi is celebrated across India.
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Sankranthi
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sankranthi is celebrated for three days. On the first day, Bhogi, people clean their homes, discard old items, and burn them to symbolize new beginnings. The second day, Sankranthi, is dedicated to prayers for the Sun God and food offerings. The third day, Kanuma, focuses on cattle, with rituals performed for animals, especially bulls, which are vital for farming. Special foods like pulihora and sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery are prepared and shared with loved ones.
Tamil Nadu: Pongal
In Tamil Nadu, Sankranthi is celebrated as Pongal over four days. The first day, Bhogi, involves discarding old items and cleaning homes. On the second day, Pongal, a sweet and savory rice dish made with freshly harvested rice, milk, and sugarcane is cooked and offered to the Sun God in gratitude for the harvest. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to cattle, with prayers and decorations for cows and bulls. The fourth day, Kaanum Pongal, is for family reunions, where people visit relatives, exchange gifts, and enjoy music, dance, and folk performances like kolam and silambam(a martial art).
Maharashtra: Makara Sankranthi
Makar Sankranthi in Maharashtra is a lively festival celebrated with various customs, including the exchange of tilgul (a sweet made from sesame seeds and jaggery) with the greeting “Tilgul ghya, god god bola,” promoting harmony and goodwill. Kite flying is a key tradition, filling the skies with color. Families enjoy sweets like Puran Poli and tilgul ladoos, while cattle are decorated and worshipped in rural areas. The day includes socializing, community events, and folk music, celebrating the harvest and the season’s warmth, symbolizing renewal, unity, and gratitude.
Punjab: Lohri & Maghi
In Punjab, Lohri and Maghi celebrate the end of winter and the start of the harvest season. Lohri, the first day, is a lively festival with bonfires, traditional songs, Bhangra and Gidda dancing, and offerings of sesame seeds, jaggery, and sugarcane to honor the harvest. The next day, Maghi is more spiritual, with people taking holy dips in rivers and praying to the Sun God for health and prosperity. Lohri celebrates abundance, while Maghi focuses on rituals and prayers, together bringing the community together in celebration and spiritual practices.
Gujarat: Uttarayan
Uttarayan in Gujarat is one of the grandest celebrations of Sankranthi.’Uttara’ means ‘north’ and ‘Ayan’ means ‘movement’. It is particularly famous for the grand tradition of kite flying. On this day, the skies are filled with colorful kites, and people gather on rooftops to engage in friendly kite-flying competitions. Special sweets like undhiyu (mixed vegetables dish) and tilgul are prepared and shared, and families visit each other to exchange gifts and enjoy meals. In rural areas, it is also a time for cattle worship and celebrating the harvest.
Assam: Magh Bihu
In Assam, Magh Bihu and Uruka are key parts of the Bihu festival. Uruka, celebrated on the eve of Magh Bihu, is a day for family and community gatherings, featuring a feast and the Meji (bonfire) to mark the end of the old year and the start of the harvest season. Traditional foods like pitha (rice cakes), larus (sweet balls), and local delicacies are enjoyed. Magh Bihu, the main day, celebrates the harvest of crops like rice, mustard, and sugarcane with community gatherings, Bihu dance, and games. In rural areas, bullock cart races, cockfights, and other games add to the festive spirit.

Though Sankranthi is celebrated across India, its regional variations showcase the diversity of the country. From the sugarcane offerings in Tamil Nadu to the kite flying in Gujarat, the harvest festival transcends regional boundaries, connecting people through a shared sense of gratitude and joy. Regardless of how it’s celebrated, Sankranthi remains a time for renewal, reflection, and celebration of the abundance of nature. It is a festival that reminds us of the importance of family, tradition, and community, all while bringing together people from different walks of life in a vibrant celebration of culture.

"HAPPY SANKRANTHI"


Author Bio:
G.V.L.Saranya
3rd year B.Tech ECE (Andhra University)
 



You may also like

  • Dr. Ravi Saripalle
    Published 7d+

Antidote for AI Job Threat!

Design Thinking is an Antidote for AI Job Threat! Explained with Example! Proposal to Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, Union Minister for Railways for Upper berth Climbing Issue by 11th Grade StudentDear

  • A. Rashmi Bhavani
    Published 7d+

BEYOND THE PAYCHECK

With time, as we age(or step up in the ladder of qualifications), we stop looking at subjects or domains for their specialty and start assessing them based on the income they provide and how lucrative

  • Dr. Ravi Saripalle
    Published 7d+

Are you cutting the Tennis Balls?

A Can Can Store 2 Tennis Balls! Cut them to Half, 4 Balls Can Fit into the Same Can! Are Our Competitive Exams Promoting this Ideology?!! Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear Friends and StudentsOne

  • EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
    Published 7d+

Explore B.Tech Programs at ANITS, Vizag

Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology and Sciences (ANITS) was established in the academic year 2001-02 with approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi,

  • EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
    Published 7d+

Roadmap to become an Aeronautical Engineer.

 What Does Aeronautical Engineering Involve?Aeronautical Engineering (a subset of Aerospace Engineering) is all about the design, development, testing, operation, and maintenance of aircraft,

  • Dr. Ravi Saripalle
    Published 7d+

Art of Parenting

Art of Parenting is a perfect Parallel to Ceiling Fan Rotation Direction!! Learn from the Fan! Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear Parents and ChildrenThis was a puzzle I had for many years! Why

  • VENKATESH PANYAM
    Published 7d+

JEE Mains-2019-Physics Analysis

To succeed in any competitive exam students should know how the questions were framed in the exam. To understand this every teacher recomends the students to solve the previous exam papers.When a student

  • VENKATESH PANYAM
    Published 7d+

Nurturing Success Through Genuine Connections in Education

In the vast landscape of education, the foundation for true success is not solely built on textbooks and exams. Instead, it flourishes within the realm of human connection. My blog delves into the paramount

  • EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
    Published 7d+

🎨 The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT): India’s Pinnacle of Fashion Education

Since its inception in 1986 under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has redefined fashion education in India. From nurturing young talent

  • Mula Lakshmi Prasanna
    Published 7d+

JOURNEY FROM 95% TO 81%

I started this journey seriously from the day it was announced that class 10 Exams won't be commencing due to Corona Virus. Apart from all the hard work that I had given in 10th, I wasn't expecting

  • EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
    Published 7d+

After 12th or Graduation!

Join the Indian Armed Forces: Turn Your Dreams into Duty, and Passion into Patriotism                                 Your

  • Dr. Ravi Saripalle
    Published 7d+

Hero or a zero culture?

Is Society heading towards a hero or a zero culture? The Road between Zero Tolerance and Exceptional Patronage is narrowing!Dear Friends and StudentsWhen Google AI chatbot Bard answered incorrectly