Sankranti: One Sun, Many Songs & Tilgud Ghya Goad Goad Bola

Sankranti: One Sun, Many Songs & Tilgud Ghya Goad Goad Bola

India is vibrant with culture and traditions but what makes it unique is the wonderful festivals celebrated in all parts of the country. Sankranti is among the most vibrant of them all. This festival  not only marks the Sun’s northward journey, but is also a beautiful collage of lived moments, music, dance, cuisines and emotions gathered from different corners of India. This harvest festival beautifully reflects the greatness of India and it's unity in diversity.

Wherever we may be, Sankranti arrives with the same message,  be grateful, give thanks, and celebrate the abundance of the land. Each region expresses this gratitude in its own language, yet the emotion remains the same. 

Being a Tamilian, my earliest Sankranti memories are  connected to Pongal. I still  remember waking up to the excitement at home in the railway colony where we lived.  The huge courtyard would be cleaned and decorated with beautiful kolams, rangoli made by our mother. The Pongal would be made in the adorned 'Ponga Paanai' shiny brass vessel in which the milk would be set to boil. As children, we waited eagerly for the moment when the milk boiled over and then chant “Pongalo Pongal!” in unison,  a sound that warms my heart till today. We would then set the table with the Pongal prasadam, sugarcane, fruits, beetle nut leaves , turmeric and kumkum for Surya Bhagawan or Sun God.  At that age, I may not have fully understood it's symbolism, but instinctively, I knew this was a moment of joy and gratitude. 

I realise now that Pongal taught me my first lessons in community living and respect for nature.

In Maharashtra, Sankranti takes on an earthy, rustic charm through Tilgud distribution, sweets made from til ( sesame )  and gud, ( jaggery) as they are the best combination for winter. Wearing of black clothes by the ladies also symbolises being prepared for the cold. Added to it are the Hurda Parties where fresh green jowar, harbhara roasted over open fire, eaten with bhakri, chutneys , sugarcane  juice.

A Hurda party means sitting together in open fields in front of a bonfire , warming oneself and savoring hurda , roasted grains even as one chatted and laughed. It  connected us to the farmer, to the land, to one another and is therefore close to my heart.  

Travel to Assam and Sankranti becomes Magh Bihu celebrated with youthful energy. Feasts, bonfires and the vibrant Bihu dance transform gratitude into movement.

The beats of the dhol, the swift footwork and the smiles of Bihu makes one feel that the land itself is dancing in happiness after a good harvest. The joy is so contagious that one cannot remain a spectator while watching and automatically begins to dance.

Gujarat, celebrates Sankranti with colourful kites which beautify the blue sky. Patang Utsav becomes a meeting point where  strangers become teammates while flying kites. As kites soar, so do their spirits. There is competition, laughter, and celebration all rolled into one. Kite-flying during Sankranti  teaches us to look up, to dream and to remain connected through a single thread.

In Punjab, Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri around a bonfire into which offerings of peanuts and revri are made.  The Bhangra and Gidda dances electrify  the atmosphere with energy and unfiltered joy. 

Standing around the fire, clapping hands to the beats adds warmth to the celebration. Lohri reflects resilience, gratitude, and the fearless spirit of the Punjabis who are deeply rooted in their land.

Each of the above celebrations makes clear the fact our festivals may have different names, flavours, and rhythms, but their soul is the same. Sankranti ,Pongal, Lohri, Bihu, Uttarayan is India’s collective thank you to the Sun, the Earth and the hands that till the soil.

This is the greatness of Indian diversity that does not divide, but enriches us as a civilization where gratitude binds us more  strongly than any boundary ever could.

Taking this message forward, Sankranti and the traditional Hurda Festival will be celebrated at Maharashtra Sadan,  Kasturba Gandhi Marg from ninth to eleventh January. Delhi will experience rural Maharashtra through food, culture, music and dance reminding us that our roots remain agricultural and our values deeply traditional even though we may live in cities. 

So let's savour the seeds of our unity in the festival of harvest. As the sun moves northward, may it light up not just our skies, but our hearts with gratitude for the great land that sustains us all. 

Delhites, please join us in this celebration of harvest, heritage and harmony. Let's come together to spread sweetness and say , "Tilgud ghya , goad goad bola..."

R.Vimala,  IAS,  

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay