Celebrating the harvest Celebrating the harvest
R. KRITHIKA
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Mid January signals the end of winter, as the sun moves closer to the sun. This is the time when farmers swing into action – bringing in the harvest.
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As man moved from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, he needed to study weather signs and the sun’s movement was one indicator.
We’ve heard enough and more about India’s unity in diversity and now really don’t pay attention to the well-worn phrase. But if you stop to think about it, it’s rather amazing that such a huge country has so much in common among far-flung regions. Take our festivals, for instance: whether it’s Pongal or Deepavali, almost the whole country goes into action. There may be differing reasons but the celebration itself is common.
Photo: K.R. Deepak
Giving thanks : For a good harvest.
Another such festival is happening this week: Call it Pongal, Lohri, Sankaranti or Magh… the names are many but large swathes of the country will give thanks for a good harvest and worship the sun as it moves northwards into Makara (Capricorn). It’s a throwback to our ancient past. As man moved from a nomadic hunter-gatherer to a settled agrarian lifestyle, he needed to study weather signs and the sun’s movement was one indicator.
The mid-January change in the sun’s path signalled the end of winter as the earth moved closer to the sun. Sankaranti means change or crossing over. And so, the farmers swing into action once the crops have been gathered.
In Uttar Pradesh, the festival is called Khichiri. Most people head for a dip in the holy rivers and a huge month-long “Magha Mela” begins at Allahabad.
Bengal too sees a mela at Ganga Sagar (the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal where the Ganga is believed to have sunk to the nether regions to liberate the ancestors of King Bhagirath).
Sweets and bonfires
In Maharashtra and Gujarat, a personal touch is added as people use the occasion to forgive and forget. Small multi-coloured sweets made of sesame (til or ellu) are given with words “Til gul guhya, god god bola” (take these til sweets and speak good words).
In Gujarat, the other important event at this time is the Kite festival. In Bundelkhand, Sukarat is celebrated with much merry making with sweets being an important part of this festival. The Bhuya tribals of Orissa have a Magh Yatra, in which they sell home made items. Bonfires are lit and community feasts are the order of the day.
Uttaranchal celebrates Ghughutia or Kale Kauva. Sweetened flour is shaped like drums, pomegranates, knives, swords, deep fried and strung into a necklace. In the south, in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, festivities last for three days. In Tamil Nadu, Bhogi or day one is the day of bonfires. In earlier times, people would re-thatch their houses and burn the old thatch along with all the leftovers from the fields and use the ashes as manure. But today, the Bhogi bonfires are a major cause of pollution in the cities.
Sankaranti is Pongal when the pot of milk and rice is allowed to boil over signifying overflowing prosperity. The third day — Maatu Pongal — celebrates the farmer’s friend, the cattle.
Photo: Reuters
American Thanksgiving : “Pumpkin”, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, surrounded by students.
Other harvest festivals
In Korea, it’s Chu’sok or the Harvest Moon Festival.
Japan celebrates Tori no Ichi or the Festival of the Rooster to pray for a good harvest.
In ancient Greece, the festival of Thesmosphoria in autumn worshipped Demeter, the goddess of corn.
In Rome, the festival of Ceres , goddess of Corn, is still held on October 4 with the offering being the first fruits of the harvest.
The Chinese harvest festival Chung Ch’ui falls on the full moon of the eighth month.
Jews celebrate Sukkotu during the Hebrew month of Tishri.
The Egyptian harvest festival worshipped Min, the god of fertility, in spring.
And the most famous of them all is the American Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.
Photo: Anu Pushkarna
Lohri : A time for dancing and celebration.
In Punjab’s Lohri, celebrations begin on the eve of Makar Sankranti. Huge bonfires are lit and sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown into it. The villagers dance and sing traditional folk songs around the bonfire. The next day is Maghi when people gather in large numbers in religious places. The day is also significant since it commemorates the Chali Mukte or the 40 Liberated Ones who died to defend Guru Gobind Singh from the Mughal army.
Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar
Bhogali Bihu : Building up the meji.
Assam celebrates its harvest as Magh or Bhogali Bihu. The previous evening, youngsters build a huge bonfire (meji) often by stealing firewood. The meji is built like a tall temple. On Sankaranti, the bonfire is lit and a feast is held. The rest of the day is for sport events. The ashes are strewn on the fields and orchards to increase fertility.
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