PM greets nation on Lohri, Makara Sankranti, Pongal

   New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today greeted the nation on the occasion of Lohri, Makara Sankranti and Pongal. In his message, Singh described these festivals as joyous occasions for celebrating and rejoicing in country's growth and prosperity. "These traditional festivals of renewal and rebirth provide us an occasion to salute the indomitable spirit of our farmers and to recognise their invaluable contribution to nation building process," the Prime Minister added.

   Lohri is celebrated on January 13 every year, while Makara Sankranti and Pongal are celebrated on January 14. The bonfire festival of Lohri is celebrated to mark the beginning of sun's journey towards Uttarayan (north). Lohri is celebrated with lot of zeal in north India, especially in the state of Punjab. Lohri jubilates fertility and is celebrated with much more enthusiasm in families where there has been a marriage of a son or a child has been born. Pongal, on the other hand, is celebrated for four days and is one of the most important harvest festivals of South India. Pongal is the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving Day festival as people thank nature for the bountiful harvest as they celebrate Pongal on the auspicious day of January 14 every year. Pongal in Tamil means "to boil over" and represents plentiful and excess yield. Makara Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 when the Sun enters the Makara raasi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day, signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam.

Back to Headlines                  Go To Top