NewzVille Desk
The Festival of Harvest, Makar Sankranti, is being celebrated in different parts of the country today. Makar Sankranti signals the end of winter and the beginning of longer days.
The festival is known by different names in different parts of the country. It is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Poush Sangkranti in West Bengal.
Vice Prsident CP Radhakrishnan in a message wished the citizens with saying, “I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to my brothers and sisters, particularly our farming community, on the joyous occasions of Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu, Kanuma, Uttarayan, Tusu Parab and other harvest festivals celebrated across the country around this time,.
Observed under different names and customs in different regions of our country, these festivals herald the change of seasons, the Sun’s northward journey, and the harvest of crops nurtured through months of dedication and hard work. Together, they reflect India’s enduring civilisational bond with agriculture and nature, and highlight the unity that underpins our rich diversity.
This season reminds me of the profound wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, who extolled the primacy of agriculture and the dignity of the farmer:
“சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் அதனால்
உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.”
These timeless words affirm that, despite all progress, the world ultimately depends on the plough, making agriculture the foremost of all pursuits.
India’s agricultural heritage has been the foundation of its economy, culture and social life.
