The New Year ushers in a season of hope and happiness and harvesting.The whole country welcomes the onset of ‘Uttarayana Punyakaram’, which marks the journey of the sun to the northern hemisphere (Makar Raasi). It is harvest time and it is a way of giving thanks to the elements of nature that help man. All across the country this festival is celebrated with much joy, though the style differs slightly from state to state. Since it marks the movement of the Sun from Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, it always falls on January 14th.

In Maharashtra this festival is called Makara Sankaranthi. Special reciepes for this festival include Til Poli and Tilache Ladoo. ”Til” is given great importance, for in this season it is considered to have special nutritive and medicinal qualities. “Til” is a very oil-giving seed. Mixed with jaggery or sugar it is made into a ladoo which people exchange with one another as a sign of friendship. “Tilgul ghya, god bola.” (“Take tilgul and speak sweetly”) is the phrase on everybody’s lips.

It is a big day for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The four-day event is called 'pedda pandungaa', which means big festival. The first day of the festival is called Bhogi, the second Sankranti, the third Kanuma and the fourth day Mukkanuma. Lighting bonfires, rangoli, and good food is part of the celebrations.

In Tamil Nadu the festival is called “Pongal”. “Pongal” means “Overflowing”. The wish is “Inbam Ponguha” – “ May the pot of happiness overflow”. It is the state festival of Tamil Nadu. On this day Pongal, a rice dish made with Milk, Jaggery , Rice and Moong Dal is prepared. Farmers thank and worship their tools like the hoe and Bullocks that help them till the land.

In Bengal, it is known as "Ganga Sagar Mela", on this day, people come from all over India for a ceremonial cleansing in the River Hooghly, near Calcutta. In Gujarat, the Kite Festival is celebrated as brightly coloured kites dot the skies.

In Punjab the celebration is called “Lohri”.Huge bonfires are lit and sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives gather together. The following day, is celebrated as MAGHI. The Punjabi's dance their famous "Bhangra dance" and enjoy a huge festival meal which includes Sarson Ka Saag and Makki Di Roti.

In Assam, the festival is celebrated as "Bhogali Bihu". Being the month of Magha, the fair held at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Sarasvati rivers at Triveni in Allahabad is also called Magha Mela.

Lokvani wishes all a wonderful New Year! May your pot of happiness overflow! May you always speak sweetly. May all enemities be forgotten. May you dance the dance of life with joy and vigor all year around!

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