President Droupadi Murmu sends heartfelt wishes for Lohri and Makar Sankranti

In India, various festivals are being celebrated across the nation, including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu. On January 14, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her warm greetings to citizens both domestically and overseas. She stressed the significance of these festivals, which symbolize India's rich cultural heritage and unity amidst diversity. These celebrations highlight the importance of agriculture and offer respect to farmers for their hard work. Makar Sankranti celebrates the sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn) and marks the end of the winter solstice while welcoming longer days. In contrast, Lohri is specifically celebrated in Northern India as a harvest festival dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God, and involves community gatherings around bonfires, traditional songs, and dances like Bhangra and Gidda. As festivities continue, PM Narendra Modi also shared his wishes, encouraging people to embrace the new energy and enthusiasm this auspicious period brings. Makar Sankranti not only exemplifies gratitude for the harvest but also has cultural significance rooted in ancient Vedic beliefs about cosmic cycles. In many regions, it is celebrated with kite flying, traditional sweets, and rituals at riverbanks, emphasizing community bonding and shared values. The convergence of various celebrations such as Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu illustrates the diversity of India's festivals while maintaining common threads of appreciation for nature and collaboration among communities during the harvest season. These festivals undertaken in different regions reaffirm the integrated fabric of cultural expressions and unity that India represents, reinforcing seasonal transitions, and highlighting shared agricultural heritage among its people.