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Makar Sankranti
(Maharashtra, Karnataka And Andhra Pradesh)
Makar Sankranti is a celebration of spring. It is a day of goodwill and friendship. Sesame ladoos and sugar drops are distributed. Women wear new clothes and hold get-togethers.
Freeindia > Tourism > India - Destination Of The New Millennium > Fairs And Festivals > Fairs And Festivals In January
Lohri
Lohri (Punjab) in the North Makar Sankranti is called Lohri which falls on the 14th of January every year when the biting cold of winter begins to taper off. People gather around bonfires and offer sweets, crisp rice and popcorn to the flames.
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Pongal
Pongal (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh)
In the South Sankranti becomes Pongal. It is harvest celebration which is observed for three days in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore, a kind of bullfight, called the "Jellikattu" is held. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls, and unarmed villagers try to wrest the bundles from them.
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Thai Pusam
Thai Pusam (Tamil Nadu)
This festival takes place in the temples dedicated to Kartikeya or Mariamman where trenches of burning coal laid out for the devotees to walk over. It has been seen that people who volunteer to undertake this experience with faith, come away unharmed and unscathed. This is followed by singing and feasting which continues till late into the night.
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Float Festival
Is celebrated in Madurai, where the ornamented icons of the two deities, the God Sundaresa and the Goddess Meenakshi are taken out in a procession from the Meenakshi temple. The icons are floated in the tank on a raft decked with flowers and flickering lamps.
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National Kite Festival
In Gujarat and other western states the change in the direction of winds on Makar Sankranti is marked by thousands of colourful kites of all patterns and dimensions which dot the blue sky. Young men vie with each other to win community kite-flying competitions.
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Kerala Village Fair
Traditional thatch houses are decorated during this ten-day long festival and are the venue for folk dances, music and festivities.
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Bikaner Festival
Is a colourful spectacle of beautifully decorated camels. Several competitions are held, marked with typical Rajasthani colour, joyous music and lilting rhythms and gay festivities.
Freeindia > Tourism > India - Destination Of The New Millennium > Fairs And Festivals > Fairs And Festivals In January
Pattadakal Dance Festival
(Karnataka)
Is a festival of dance held at Pattaclakal.
Freeindia > Tourism > India - Destination Of The New Millennium > Fairs And Festivals > Fairs And Festivals In January
Vasant Panchami
(North India & West Bengal)
Is a ceremonial welcome to spring. People wear colourful attires. especially Su in bright shades of yellow and they dance. sing and make merry. In West Bengal, 'Saraswati', the Goddess of learning is worshipped.
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