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What Make Harvest Festivals Of India Attract Visitor?

By Jenna Jolie

India is known for its diverse culture and traditions and has a long history of harvest festivals. Most of these festivals are integral to the country's agricultural heritage and are celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm. Besides, the diversity in the 29 states of India also contributes to the richness of the Indian harvest season. Harvest festivals of India are also known as 'Thanksgiving' festivals, as they express gratitude to nature for the bountiful harvest. The festivals are also a way to celebrate the hard work farmers and their families put in throughout the year.

Visitors Should Learn More All About The Harvest Festival In India

Harvest festivals are an important celebration in India, and learning all about harvest festivals is an essential part of understanding the country's rich cultural heritage. During these festivals, citizens come together to express gratitude for the crops grown on the land, marking the main harvest season of different regions throughout the year. For Indian citizens, agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy, and these festivals hold significant importance, so this is should be celebrated with enthusiasm. Harvest festivals in India not only mark the celebrations of the ripe crops but also of the astronomical changes in the solar system. It's a time for social gatherings and family reunions, reflecting the country's vibrant diversity. In addition, these festivals are considered auspicious and symbolized by joy, close friendship, and prayers. This is all about the harvest festival in India, which is an integral part of the country's tradition.

Onam Festival on the streets of Aranmula , Kerala, India

Onam Festival on the streets of Aranmula , Kerala, India

Exploring Different Festivals Celebrated In India From North To South India

It would be great if tourists came to India during this country's festivals. From religious celebrations to cultural and regional celebrations, festivals in India offer tourists a chance to learn about the country's traditions, beliefs, and values. Let's take a closer look at some of the different festivals celebrated in India and what they can tell us about the country's culture.

Bhogali Bihu - The Time to Express Gratitude to Nature

Bihu is a significant harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Assam. The festival marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. It is observed in three forms: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu, each associated with different stages of the agricultural cycle. On the eve of the festival, the people of India will hold a traditional communal feast called Uruka to start the festival and enjoy the festivities after the efforts of the crop.

On Bhogali Bihu day, women often don traditional attire called mukhtars, dance, and sing to the beat of the dhol, pepa, and baanhi. One of the main highlights of the festival is the traditional folk dance called Bihu. Aside from these cultural activities, Bihu is also a time for enjoyment and entertainment. People participate in bullfights, bird battles, and other fun activities.

Youths perform Bihu dance on the occasion of Rongali Bihu

Youths perform Bihu dance on the occasion of Rongali Bihu

Baisakhi – Celebrating With The Rhythms Of Dhol And Bhangra

Baisakhi, also referred to as Vaisakhi, is a celebration that takes place in the northern Indian state of Punjab, marking the start of the Sikh New Year and the harvest season. Besides, Baisakhi is a time of joy and festivity, where people gather to dance and enjoy food. The festival's highlight is the lively Bhangra dance accompanied by the traditional drum, dhol. Especially, Baisakhi holds religious significance, with Sikhs visiting gurdwaras (Sikh temples) to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Additionally, the Baisakhi festival provides an opportunity for people to dress in traditional clothing, with men sporting colorful turbans and women dressing in bright and beautiful attire. With the aim of celebrating the dynamic Punjabi culture, Baisakhi is held with great excitement and fervor not only in Punjab but also in other regions of India and worldwide.

Gudi Padwa – A Springtime Ceremony

Gudi Padwa is a springtime festival celebrated in the Indian state of Maharashtra, marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls in March or April. On the Gudi Padwa day, Indian citizens will build Gudi (bamboo dolls) out of mango and neem leaves, which they hang in the entryway. The Gudi is believed to symbolize victory, and its raising is considered an auspicious sign of the start of the new year.

On this day, people also prepare unique dishes and sweets, such as Puran poli and shrikhand, and share them with friends and family. Gudi Padwa is a time for spring cleaning and decorating homes with rangolis and torans. The festival reflects Maharashtra's rich cultural heritage and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by people of all ages.

Gudi Padwa – A Springtime Ceremony

Gudi Padwa – A Springtime Ceremony

Nuakhai – Worship Of Food Grains

In the native language, Nua means new and Khai means food, together noakhai indicates the celebration of the first harvested rice. Nuakhai is celebrated in the western districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Balangir in the Indian state of Odisha. This is not only a famous harvest festival, but it is also held to honor the passage of the old and wicked days while embracing the new and lovely with open arms.

In celebration of Nuakhai, people gather to eat food, give and receive presents, and ask the god for their blessings on a bumper crop the following year. Folk dances like Sambalpuri and Dalkhai are performed by people dressed in traditional clothing to the rhythm of these instruments. The festival not only showcases the rich cultural heritage of Odisha but also highlights the significance of agriculture in the state's economy and people's lives.

Pongal festival - The most vibrant harvest celebration in India

The Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The event typically takes place in the middle of January, signaling the end of the winter solstice and the arrival of the crop. In particular, Pongal, which lasts for 4 days, is regarded as India's most vibrant harvest celebration. To celebrate the Pongal festival, people decorate their houses with rangolis, offer prayers to the deities, and enjoy traditional dishes such as sweet Pongal, Venn Pongal, and sugarcane. Pongal is a time for joyous celebrations, and the festival's vibrant colors and rituals reflect the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu.

Making Flower rangoli for diwali or onam or Pongal Festival

Making Flower rangoli for diwali or onam or Pongal Festival

Harvest festivals of India are more than just celebrating the ripeness of crops, but also offer visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of festivals while visiting India. It would be great if your trip to these regions coincides with the ongoing harvest festivals, it will certainly be a great opportunity for visitors to understand more about the culture of this country.

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