As the Sun began its northward journey, known as Uttarayana, millions of people across India and the global diaspora gathered to celebrate the winter harvest season.
These festivals, though known by various regional names such as Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Lohri, share a singular core theme of expressing gratitude to nature, the Sun, and the farming community for a bountiful season. From the vibrant rooftops of Gujarat to the community centres of London, these celebrations mark the transition into longer, warmer days and the successful reaping of rabi crops.
This year’s festivities have seen an unprecedented level of international participation, highlighting how ancient traditions continue to foster a sense of belonging and community among the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and beyond.
The pan India spirit of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti serves as the foundational solar festival for much of India, unique for being fixed to the solar calendar. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the day is affectionately known as Khichdi, named after the ritual dish of rice and lentils consumed to mark the occasion. Dalia Banerjee Singh, founder of Indian Bengalis in the UK, explains that for those from Bihar, the day starts with a mandatory morning shower or a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga. The diet consists of tilkut, curd, and chura-gur, while youngsters seek blessings from their elders. In West Bengal, the festival is called Poush Sankranti or Poush Parbon, marking the end of the month of Poush. Dalia notes that the focus here is on "notun chaal" or new rice and date palm jaggery. Families prepare traditional sweets like Patishapta and Bhapa pithe, while iconic rural fairs like the Poush Mela in Shantiniketan draw massive crowds to celebrate together.
The warmth of Lohri and Maghi
In the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, the winter chill is combated with the roaring bonfires of Lohri, celebrated on January 13. This festival is particularly significant for new parents and newlyweds, who gather around the fire to offer sesame seeds, jaggery, and peanuts. Kamalpreet Kaur, Councillor for the London Borough of Hillingdon, shares that in her diverse constituency of Wood End, Hayes, Lohri is celebrated with immense fervour. She notes that many Punjabis in the UK continue these traditions by hosting community bonfire events. Following Lohri, the festival of Maghi is observed. For the Sikh community, this day holds deep spiritual significance as it commemorates the sacrifice of the "Chaali Muktey" or the forty liberated ones who gave their lives for their faith. Special prayers are held at gurdwaras, such as the Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Southall, where the congregation gathers to honour their heritage and the onset of spring.
Pongal and the Tamil heritage
In Tamil Nadu and among the global Tamil diaspora, January is celebrated as Tamil Heritage Month, with the four-day harvest festival of Pongal as its centrepiece. V. Jana, Executive Director of the Tamil Welfare Association, explains that Pongal is a non-religious festival dedicated to thanking the Sun, farmers, and cattle. He describes a beautiful spiritual metaphor where sugarcane represents the human backbone and the sweet ingredients in the pot reflect the positivity within the soul. Sayana T, a young volunteer at the Tamil Community Centre, highlights that in West London, organisations like the TCC promote wellbeing through Pongal festivities, including Bharatanatyam performances and the annual Poomalai event. In the UK, while the festival is not a public holiday, many families take time off to boil the Pongal pot indoors, maintaining the tradition of shouting "Pongalo Pongal" as the rice boils over, even if they cannot physically thank livestock as they would in Sri Lanka or India.
Diverse traditions in the United Kingdom
The celebration of the harvest extends to many other regional forms, such as the kite-flying festivals of Uttarayan in Gujarat or the Magh Bihu feasts of Assam. Prabhakar Kaza, a Councillor in Borehamwood, describes how the celebrations in London have become a melting pot of cultures. Families draw intricate Kolams on their floors and exchange sweets to welcome the summer. He specifically highlights the "Bommala Koluvu" or Golu tradition, popular during Sankranthi, where tiered platforms are decorated with handmade dolls to represent cosmic order. For many Telugu and Tamil associations across the UK, these gatherings involve music, dance, and even community sports. Whether it is the Ghughutiya sweets of Uttarakhand offered to birds or the Mahara Chaula of Odisha celebrating new rice, the winter harvest remains a powerful symbol of abundance and shared humanity across the globe.
Across the globe, these vibrant winter festivals serve as a bridge between ancient agrarian traditions and the modern lives of the Indian diaspora. By uniting communities through the shared values of gratitude, feasting, and cultural pride, they ensure that the spirit of the Indian harvest remains a powerful force for togetherness and joy.
