Today, January 13,  marks the celebration of Lohri, a vibrant festival that signals the beginning of winter harvest festivities in India. Following closely are Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu. These festivals hold great significance across the country, symbolizing joy and success as the first crops of the New Year are harvested.

India, known for its rich tapestry of festivals, gears up to embrace the spirit of these harvest celebrations with enthusiasm. As we bid farewell to the initial week of January, anticipation builds for the upcoming winter harvest festivals that hold a special place in the hearts of the people.

The inaugural harvest festivals of the year include Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, and Magh Bihu. These festivals not only signify agricultural prosperity but also serve as occasions for grand celebrations, marked by fervor and splendor. To provide insight into these festivities, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the winter harvest festivals celebrated throughout India. 

Winter Harvest Festivals Celebrated Across India:

Lohri

Lohri falls on January 13, Saturday, this year, and is widely celebrated in Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana. Also known as Lohadi or Lal Loi, this Punjabi folk festival commemorates the passing of the winter solstice, occurring a day before Makar Sankranti. Celebrants light bonfires, offering sesame seeds, jaggery, gajak, rewdi, and peanuts to the flames. Hindu and Sikh communities perform Parikrama around the bonfires, harvest crops, and present the newly yielded bhog to the fire.

Makar Sankranti

Following Lohri, the harvesting festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 15. Dedicated to Lord Surya, it marks the sun's transition into Makara (Capricorn) raashi (zodiac sign). The festival is observed across the country with regional variations – Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Khichdi in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarayanan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Maghi in Haryana and Punjab. The festivities, lasting two to four days, involve worshiping Lord Surya, taking holy dips, charitable acts, kite flying, preparing sesame and jaggery sweets, and honoring livestock.

Pongal

Pongal, spanning from January 15 (Monday) to January 18 (Thursday), is a four-day harvest festival coinciding with the Tamil month of Thai. While Makar Sankranti graces North India, Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Sri Lanka. The festival revolves around a traditional dish made of rice, lentils, and sweeteners, offered to the gods in gratitude for the abundant harvest. The four days are named Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kannum Pongal.

Magh Bihu

Commencing on January 16, according to Drik Panchang, Magh Bihu is the Sankranti harvest festival celebrated in Assam. Marking the end of the harvesting season in the region, the festival extends for a week, starting on the first day of the Magh month as per the Bengali Panjika. Dedicated to Agni, the Lord of Fire, Magh Bihu contrasts with the rest of India, where Sankranti is dedicated to Surya, the Sun Lord. The day preceding Magh Bihu, known as Uruka, involves lighting the Meji and worshiping the fire. A central custom of the festival is the construction of Meji – a makeshift structure made of bamboo, thatch, and local materials.