In North India,
Himachal Pradesh, Punjab -Lohri
In East India,
Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa -Bhogali Bihu, Makara Samkranthi
In Western India,
Gujarath and rajasthan - Uttarayan(Kite flying festival)
Maharashtra - sankranti
In South India,
In Andhra Pradesh- Sankranti - సంక్రాంతి
In Tamilnadu - Pongal
In Karnataka - Sankranthi
In Kerala - Makara Vilakku Festival in Sabarimala Temple
Other parts of India as Makara Sankranti
In Nepal,
Tharu people - Maghi
Other people - Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati
In Thailand - Songkran
In Laos - Pi Ma Lao
In Myanmar - Thingyan
Bhogi
The festival begins with people cleaning their houses and burning all the "rubbish of the past year" before the day ends. This ritual is called the Bhogi Mantalu, when all the useless household articles are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow-dung cakes. Girls dance around the bonfire, singing songs in praise of the Gods, the spring and the harvest. The significance of this "bon fire", as we call in contemporary terms is to keep them warm during the last lap of winter.
Little children have a festivity of "Bhogi pallu", wherein all the elders ,friends, relatives and neighbours pour the "a mixture regi fruits,flowers, sugercane pieces, coins" and bless the kids.
Bhogi pallu:
"Bhogi Pandlu" is a special ritual to be performed on the day of Bhogi. On Bhogi, the children are dressed up with new dresses. They are given Aarti and Bhogi Pandlu (Bhogi Pallu – a special mixture of gooseberries, food material, sugarcane and rice) are showered on the heads of children to protect them from the evil forces.
image of regi pandu
Sankranti:
The next day the grand day with everyone cooking the "Pongal" with the new rice and perform pooja to the gods and goddesses.HouseHolds members clean the courtyards by sprinkling it with cow dung, water and draw with lime powder or rice flour, which is known as "Muggu" in Telugu or more commonly known as the Rangoli. "Muggu" is an essential part of the Bhogi panduga and of Sankranti, which follows soon after. Young girls spend hours in evolving new and varied patterns of these Muggulu and drawing them. Even though the modern civilization is overtaking the old, the tradition of drawing Muggulu on the courtyards with the "Kumb" and the mango leaves still continue to flourish. At the center of these Muggulu, mounds of cow dung known as "Gobbi Devata" decorated with vermilion, turmeric and flowers of red, yellow and green colors are placed to give it a religious flavor.
.On sankranthi day,sweet pongal is cooked.
Preparation:
Sweet pongal (rice, moong dal (split yellow lentils), jaggery (raw sugar made from sugarcane), dry fruit, and milk) is cooked in a new earthenware pot on an open fire and allowed to boil over, signifying plenty and prosperity. Fresh tumeric and ginger are tied to the pot. The pongal is offered to Surya (sun god) and eaten as prasad.
Gangireddulu(beautifully decorated oxen) are taken from house to house
and are made to nod their heads,as an enactment of offering a blessing.
The owner of the oxen also blesses the people and performs small tricks
in return for gifts of grain and clothes. Haridasulu are the traditional singers who singers bhajans on God,praying for the welfare of the people.He goes around the streets,very early in the morning,waking people up,to start the day by chanting the name of the God.Everybody treats him as a holy person.Every one offers grains,vegetables or money in return for his blessings.
Boys fly kites . There is also a tradition of bullock cart races, cock fights(kodi pandaalu).
Bullock cart race
kodi pandaalu
At evening in the respective houses,Bommala Koluvu will be done.
Bommala koluvu is an important aspect of Sankranthi which is the display
of various dolls and toys.Koluvu means Durbar.A variety of dolls are arranged beautifully in a selected place of the house and displayed to all the guests who come to see it.In the evening all the neighbourhood ladies are invited to the koluvu to spend time together.This is called 'Perantam'.Young girls apply turmeric paste to the feet of women and offer them 'vayanam' which consists of beetle leaves,nut-powder
and soaked channa(sanagalu).The newly wedded couple of the house,i.e. the new son-in-laws and daughters receive great respect and courtesy and are presented with new clothes and gifts by the parents-in-law.
Kanumu is the important festival for farmers.In that day,farmers will decorate their cattles and worship them for the things they are doing to them.The bullocks are decorated and pooja is performed to the cows, bullocks and all animals who aid the farmer in his tasks.
In this way people enjoy the festival.It was believed that all that is new, a new crop, the first catch of a season, and the first born of a domestic animal, was sacred and hence not to be touched by man until certain sacramental ceremonies were performed. A part of the new was sacrificed to the gods or spirits, and one's ancestors, and only Pongal then could it be consumed. In addition, it was realised that the fruit of the earth and animals for food should not begarnered until they were ready. This was emphasised by the community; and until a ritual was performed, nothing could be gathered, slain, or eaten. The harvest festival of Pongal symbolises the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated by all. In the south, all three days of Pongal are considered important.