Pics: Communities celebrate festivals across India

Bangalore, Jan 14: With a number of festivals falling on a single day, there is a reason for almost all communities to celebrate. To name a few, there are a number of festivals falling on Tuesday from Makar Sankranti, Bhogali Bihu, Lohri, Pongal to Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi.

Each of the festivals - largely celebrated to mark the harvest season in different parts of India - will be observed by different communities in traditional ways. And Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi will be celebrated to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, reported DNA.

Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated in the northern parts of India, sees families distributing chikki (a sweet delicacy made out of jaggery and sesame seeds). Makar Sankranti is also attributed due to astral changes. It is said that the Sun enters the Makara (Capricorn) zodiac sign.

Lohri is celebrated by Punjabis and Bhogali Bihu by the Assamese. In both the festivals, a bonfire is lit.

Bhogali Bihu is celebrated by families organising a feast on the eve of Makar Sankranti. It is to celebrate a good harvest. Several fish and mutton delicacies are cooked for the feast. On the Sankranti day, a bonfire is lit early in the morning and prayers are offered.

Pongal is celebrated in southern India. Families prepare rice delicacies in pots.

And with Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet will be celebrated across the country through rallies.

Sikh devotees take bath in the holy sarovar

Sikh devotees take bath in the holy sarovar and pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (Maghi) festival in Amritsar on Tuesday.

A view of tents at Magh Mela

A view of tents at Magh Mela area on the eve of Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad on Monday.

A sadhu blows a buffalo horn

A sadhu blows a buffalo horn at the bank of Khwoi River on Makar Sankranti festival in Agartala on Tuesday.

An sadhu performs arti after taking holy dip in river Ganga

An sadhu performs arti after taking holy dip in river Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti festival in Mirzapur on Tuesday.

Salman Khan flying kite with Narendra Modi

Bollywood actor Salman Khan flying kite as Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi looks on during the Uttarayan Festival in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

An elderly devotee prays as RAF soldiers patrol at Sangam

An elderly devotee prays as Rapid Action Force (RAF) soldiers patrol at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and Yamuna on Makar Sankranti festival in Allahabad on Tuesday.

OneIndia News