Lohri, Pongal, Makar Sankranti 2021: History, significance and popular foods

Festival season is here with Lohri and Pongal falling on the same day- January 13 and Makar Sankranti falling on the very next day- January 14. Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti, all the three festivals are harvest festivals of the country and are celebrated in different parts of the country with equal pomp and show. While Lohri is celebrated in North Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, Pongal is a festival of the South and is especially celebrated with grandeur in Tamil Nadu. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in a number of states like Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Bengal, Assam and Karnataka. Read on to know the history and significance of these harvest festivals, along with the popular food items eaten.

Significance- Lohri is celebrated just a day before Makar Sankranti and marks the onset of the harvest festival. People celebrate the festival by singing folk songs, lighting bonfires, eating foods like rewari and peanuts. Lohri is also said to mark the end of winter months and the start of longer summer days.

History- Many folk songs of Punjab have the mention of Dulla Bhatti, who was a legendary hero and led a rebellion against the Mughal empire. He is remembered during this time and finds mention in songs sung on Lohri.

Food items- Moongfali and rewari are the two most popular foods that people enjoy while sitting around a bonfire on the night of Lohri. Some other popular foods prepared on this day are Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag, Dahi Bhalle, Gobhi Pakore, Gur Halwa, Pinni and Gur Gajak.

Significance- Harvest festival of the South Indian states, Pongal is celebrated to mark the harvest time of rice, turmeric and sugarcane. The festival stretches for four days and each day has a special name- Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanum Pongal. People celebrate by decorating the cows, painting their horns, holding bathing rituals and carrying out processions.

History- It is said that the festival originated as a Dravidian Harvest festival, around 2000 years ago. According to another legend, lord Shiva once asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask humans to have an oil massage, bath every day and to eat once a month. The bull mistakenly announced that Shiva has asked people to eat daily, have an oil bath once a month. Enraged with this Shiva, banished Bavasa to live on the earth forever. The bull then helped people plough their fields and thus helped with the crops.

Food items- Curd Rice, Til Laddoo, Lemon Rice, Ellu Sadam, Ven Pongal, Bobbatlu, Sweet Pongal, Pullihora and Medu Vada are some traditional food items made on Pongal.

Significance- Makar Sankranti is another harvest festival celebrated a day after Lohri. It marks the first day of the sun’s transit to the Makar Rashi or Capricorn. This also marks the end of the winter solstice. Many devotees take a dip at the sacred rivers Like Ganga in Varanasi, Haridwar, Allahabad or Yamuna and offer their prayers to the Sun God. People fry kites, light bonfires and enjoy yellow coloured Khichdi on this festival.

History- According to a famous legend, Sankranti was a goddess who killed a devil called Shankarasur. Bhisma Pitamah, a character in Mahabharat also breathed his last on the day of Makar Sankranti.

Food items- Coconut Gujiya, Dahi Choor Gur, Khichdi, Til Poli, Patishapta, Payasam, Murukku, Peanut Chikki, Gajjak, Masala Vada and Tilgul are popular recipes made on Makar Sankranti.