When are the Indian festivals of Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal and how are they celebrated?


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The first major Indian holiday of the year is a Hindu festival dedicated to the sun god, Surya. Popularly called Makar Sankranti, it is celebrated over several days and marks the end of winter and the start of spring.

Known by various names across the country, the festival is celebrated as Pongal in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and among the Tamil diaspora around the world, including in Sri Lanka. In Assam in the north-east of India, it's celebrated as Magh Bihu, while in other states, it's simply known as Sankranti. Sikhs also celebrate the festival as Maghi.

India's neighbouring countries also mark the festival – it is known as Poush Sankranti in Bangladesh and Maghe Sankranti in Nepal.

Meanwhile, similar celebrations also take place around the same time for Lohri. Observed mostly in Punjab and among the Punjabi diaspora around the world, Lohri marks the end of the winter and the start of longer days.

On which dates do Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal fall?

The dates for Makar Sankranti and Pongal are set by the solar cycle and usually begin when the Sun enters Capricorn. According to online Hindu calendar drikpanchang.com, this year Makar Sankranti and Pongal fall on January 14 on the Gregorian calendar. Lohri will be celebrated a day earlier, on January 13.

How is Lohri celebrated?

As this festival marks the last days of the cold winter, Lohri celebrations traditionally involve the lighting of bonfires, where people gather around and sing songs and dance. Celebrants usually wear brightly coloured clothes and perform bhangra, while others toss sesame, jaggery and peanuts into the fire for good luck.

Folk songs are also sung, one of the most popular ones being the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a man known for his courage when he rescued girls from being sold to slavery during Mughal emperor Akbar's reign in the 1500s.

How is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

A worker arranges kites on display for sale at a shop ahead of the Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad. AFP
A worker arranges kites on display for sale at a shop ahead of the Makar Sankranti kite festival in Hyderabad. AFP

Depending on which part of India you live in, Makar Sankranti celebrations can last between two and four days, with each state or region marking the festivities in different ways. In some Indian states, such as Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a major holiday and celebrated for up to four days.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, also in the south of India, women decorate the entrance of their homes with geometric patterns using rice flour. In Gujarat in the west, thousands of colourful kites can be seen dotting the skies as revellers head to building rooftops to indulge in friendly kite-flying competitions.

Many Hindu devotees also travel to holy rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna to take a dip and atone for their sins. In many parts of India, sweets are made from sesame and jaggery, and consumed as part of celebrations.

How is Pongal celebrated?

A woman paints earthenware pots ahead of the Hindu harvest festival Pongal in Chennai. AFP
A woman paints earthenware pots ahead of the Hindu harvest festival Pongal in Chennai. AFP

Pongal gets its name from the dish popularly made to mark the festival. The name means to “boil over” or “overflow”, and the dish is made of rice, milk and jaggery traditionally cooked in a clay pot.

The dish is first offered to the deity Surya, then to cattle, who help with agriculture, and then shared among family members or among the community, where large-scale celebrations are held.

On this day, cows are bathed, garlanded with flowers and their horns decorated.

A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP
A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP

Pongal is also when the ancient, albeit controversial, Jallikattu, or bull fighting, is held. During the event, a bull is released into a crowd of people and male participants attempt to grab the hump on its back to try and bring the bull to a stop.

Animal rights activists have called for the sport to be banned, claiming bulls are often grievously hurt and even killed as a result. In May last year, India's Supreme Court allowed the sport to continue following a brief ban.

Celebrations in Dubai

Kite Masti

This family-friendly event at Al Mamzar Beach in Dubai on Sunday will include kite flying, traditional dance performances and live music throughout the day. There will also be food stalls serving festive specials, as well as games and activities for children. Tickets, priced at Dh25, are available online.

Lohri-themed Bingo brunch

Indian restaurant Mahi cafe at Al Nahda is hosting a Lohri-themed Sunday Bingo Brunch on January 12. Starting at 1pm, each brunch package comes with four bingo cards where guests can play and win prizes. Traditional dhol performers will add to the festive atmosphere. Brunch is priced from Dh55.

Punjabi thali

A Lohri non-vegetarian thali at Punjabi restaurant Dhaba Lane. Photo: Dhaba Lane
A Lohri non-vegetarian thali at Punjabi restaurant Dhaba Lane. Photo: Dhaba Lane

Punjabi restaurant Dhaba Lane, which has multiple branches in Dubai, is offering an all-you-can-eat Punjabi thali to mark Lohri. Available between Wednesday and Monday, the package includes traditional Lohri treats such as gajak, a sweet treat made of sesame seeds, and rewadi, a jaggery and sesame mixture. The thali is available for both lunch and dinner and is priced at Dh65.

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Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist

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Hobbies: Reading and drawing

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Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in

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His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.

“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.

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Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.

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Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
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Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

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Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

Updated: January 09, 2025, 6:41 AM