Sankranthi Festival in India – Bhogi, Pongal, Kanuma & Mukkanuma Explained
- Date:
14 January every year
- Names Across India:
Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Uttarayan (Gujarat), Maghi (Punjab/Haryana), Lohri
(Punjab eve), Makar Sankranti (North India), Magha (Odisha).
- Core Theme:
Celebration of harvest, transition of the Sun into Capricorn (Makara
Rashi), and the onset of longer, warmer days.
- Duration:
4 days in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana; 2 days in Gujarat; single‑day
observances in many northern states.
Four Days of Sankranthi
1. Bhogi
(Day 1):
o Discard
old belongings, light bonfires at dawn.
o Symbolizes
renewal and transformation.
2. Sankranthi
(Day 2):
o Main
festival dedicated to Surya (Sun God).
o Families
prepare festive foods like Ven Pongal (rice, dal, spices, cashews).
o Worship
of the Sun for prosperity and health.
3. Kanuma
(Day 3):
o Dedicated
to cattle and domestic animals.
o Cows
decorated, fed sugarcane and sweet rice, horns painted.
o Symbolizes
gratitude to livestock in agriculture.
4. Mukkanuma
(Day 4):
o Family
reunions and community feasts.
o Farmers
thank relatives, friends, and nature for harvest.
o Known
as Uzhavar Thirunaal in Tamil Nadu.
Food Traditions
- Pongal:
Iconic dish of Tamil Nadu, meaning “to boil.”
- Ven Pongal Benefits:
- Protein‑rich, aids digestion,
prevents constipation.
- Contains ginger & pepper for
anti‑nausea effects.
- Cholesterol‑free, filled with
healthy fats.
Dance & Culture
- Lohri (Punjab):
Bonfire, folk songs, and dances.
- Gobbemma (Andhra):
Cow dung cakes decorated in rangoli, worshipped by girls with songs.
- Haridas & Basavanna:
Devotional singers with decorated bulls visiting homes, symbolizing
blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Rangavalli
(Muggu/Rangoli)
- Geometric patterns drawn at entrances
with colored powders.
- Invites Goddess Lakshmi and
prosperity.
- Colors carry meaning:
- White – purity, Red – strength,
Yellow – richness, Green – harmony, Orange – sacrifice, Blue – happiness.
Kite Flying
- Popular in Gujarat (Uttarayan),
Rajasthan, Karnataka.
- Symbolizes exposure to the Sun’s rays
for health benefits.
- Skies filled with colorful patang
kites, contests to cut rivals’ strings.
Beliefs
& Significance
- Marks Sun’s northward journey
(Uttarayan).
- Symbol of renewal, prosperity, and
gratitude for harvest.
- Ritual baths in Ganga (Uttar Pradesh)
believed to cleanse sins.
- Haridasa’s songs and Gobbemma worship
seen as auspicious beginnings.
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