Nimisha Lakhia avers that festivals celebrating nature or its produce or harvest are not mere ceremonies. They are expressions of a profound understanding of the delicate balance between human population and the natural world. Through these observances and customs, one pays homage to the life-sustaining elements – the rain, the harvest, the crop, the wildlife, the rivers, the mountains, the plains and more.
India is a country with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, where many festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Some of these festivals are related to nature and crop harvests, where the beauty, bounty and balance of the environment are celebrated. These festivals are not only occasions of joy and gratitude, but also of learning and inspiration.
They reflect the deep connection and respect the communities have for nature and its various elements, such as water, soil, sun, animals, birds and others. Some of the important harvest festivals in India are Pola, Lohri, Baisakhi, Makar Sakranti, Onam, Bihu, Karam, Nabanna, Pongal, Vishu, Wangala, Nuakhai, etc., that are celebrated by different communities across India.
The festivals celebrating nature or its produce or harvest are not mere ceremonies; they are expressions of a profound understanding of the delicate balance between human population and the natural world. Through these observances and customs, one pays homage to the life-sustaining elements – the rain, the harvest, the crop, the wildlife, the rivers, the mountains, the plains and more.
They serve as poignant reminders of our interconnectedness with nature and the imperative to protect and cherish the planet that sustains us. These festivals stand as vibrant threads, weaving together a narrative of reverence, gratitude and harmonious coexistence with the natural world.
Rain and harmony
Monsoon is a season of rain, greenery and freshness in India. Water is the source of life and monsoon brings water to the parched lands, dried soils and emptied reservoirs. It is also a season of various festivals that celebrate the arrival and departure of the monsoon. Some of these festivals are Onam, Teej, Janmashtami, Pola, etc.
Onam is a traditional festival – cultural and harvest – that is celebrated by the people of Kerala in South India. It also celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabali who was a benevolent ruler but was banished by Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar. Onam celebrates the rice harvest which is very important for the people of Kerala.
Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, who is considered to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan, which falls in August or September. The festival is celebrated by fasting, singing, dancing and enacting scenes from Krishna’s life.
Harvest and festivities
Harvest is a time of joy and gratitude for the farmers who reap the fruits of their hard work and for the people who enjoy the abundance of food and crops. It is also a time of various festivals that celebrate the harvest and thank nature for its generosity.
Pola is a thanksgiving festival celebrated by farmers in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, to acknowledge the importance of cattle and their contribution to agriculture and farming activities. It falls on the day of Pithori Amavasya (the new moon day) in the month of Shravan.
In rural Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated by bathing the bulls and oxen, colouring their horns, changing the old ropes with new, tying new bells and decorating them with shawls and accessories. The decorated cattle are taken out on a procession to the fields, and on their return worshipped by the women of the house with aarti and application of vermillion and treated to traditional food including the sweet puranpoli.
In the north-eastern state of Assam the annual festival Bohag Bihu is celebrated with great enthusiasm as it represents the beginning of the Assamese New Year. During this festival, farmers rejoice and feast to their heart’s delight. Also known as Rongali Bihu, this festival celebrates the beginning of the harvest season in the region.
Bohag Bihu is the most important Bihu festival among the three such festivals celebrated in the state. It is observed for a week and in the Hindu calendar month of Baisakh also known as Bohag locally which falls in the month of April. The other two are observed in Maagh and in Kaati (Kartik).
During the seven-day festival, all elements of the farming activity are celebrated and revered. On the first day, it’s the cattle and other animals that help farmers in sowing and other activities. During the festival, these animals are given a proper bath with a paste made of local ingredients like black gram and turmeric. The customs that follow are a way to express gratitude to the animals for their help in farming that result in a good harvest.
The other days of the Bohag Bihu festival are dedicated to human, known as Manuah, and God, known as Gosai. The farmers worship their deities and pray for a prosperous year ahead and a bountiful harvest. They wear traditional clothes and dance together on folk songs.
Traditional food from fresh harvest
Another important harvest festival in India is the four-day (uttarayan punyakalam) Pongal that is celebrated primarily in Tamil Nadu in South India. It signifies new beginnings as it marks the end of winter and beginning of the summer season. Observed between January 15th and 18th, it’s the time when the solar equinox happens i.e. henceforth days will be longer and nights shorter.
The Sun is worshipped during Pongal, as the life force behind every living being on Earth. As offering to the Sun, rice is prepared with milk and jaggery in earthen pots. Pongal translates to ‘to boil or overflow’ and during this festival there is a lot of significance given to rice, turmeric and sugarcane that grow extensively in the region.
On the first day which is the main day, customs are performed to thank the god of rain i.e. Indra for his benevolence. Family members clean up the house thoroughly and get rid of unused items for fresh beginnings. Rangoli or floor design made from white rice paste called as kolam adorns all houses during the festival and then the Pongal is prepared in the earthen pot.
Pongal’s North India counterpart is Makar Sankranti that marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar. People celebrate by flying kites, taking holy dips in rivers and exchanging sweets made from sesame seeds and jaggery called til ka laddoo.
In Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, on the eve of Makar Sankranti, Lohri is celebrated by lighting bonfires, singing folk songs, dancing bhangra and gidda and eating peanuts and rewri, all signifying gratefulness for the fresh harvest.
For the people of Punjab and Haryana, a very important harvest festival is Baisakhi festival aka Vaisakhi when they get an opportunity to thank the divine for a good harvest. On this occasion, people wear colourful clothes and traditional attire, sing folk songs, play the dhol and dance to the rhythmic beats of the dhol.
During this festival, melas or Baisakhi fairs are organised that are a huge hit especially among the young. In the fair, there are myriad activities ranging from wrestling, acrobatics, etc. and often there are wrestling competitions between rival clubs.
In these colourful fairs, people from villages and towns come to celebrate, shop, eat and revel. Women can be seen performing gidda and men doing bhangra on folk songs. People can also be seen playing the traditional instruments such as algoza and vanjli. These harvest festivals celebrate the bounty of nature that sustains human life. They also celebrate the seasons that bring change and renewal to nature and humans.