A Special HARVEST FESTIVAL

 

Today we celebrated a special Festival commemorating the winter solstice and the end of the Harvest season.
 
Yes, we know we are not farmers and we do not own any agricultural land but this doesn’t deter us from celebrating this special Harvest Festival which is associated with a great deal of feasting and festivities.
 
Know by different names in different parts of India, this festival is like an Annual ‘Thanksgiving’ Day.
Prayers and Thanks are offered for the full granaries, people exchange sweets and prepare special dishes to mark the occasion.
Children go from door to door, singing folk songs and are gifted sweets, savouries and sometimes money.
 
These collections are called ‘Lohri’ and hence, in the North Indian states of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, the festival is called ‘LOHRI’ or ‘LODI’.
Like most Indian festivals, there are many legends associated with this Harvest fest too. (You might want to read about them HERE)
 
In India’s North-East it is called ‘MAGH-BIHU or BHOGALI-BIHU’.
‘Magh’ is the Assamese month starting from mid-January while ‘Bhogali’ is the word derived from ‘Bhog’ meaning ‘A feast’!
 
The name is associated with the abundant feasting that is a part of this festival.
Traditionally, people stay up overnight, dancing and singing around a bonfire, feasting on special barbecued food.
 
In Western and parts of Southern India, it is called ‘Makar Sankranti’ while in the Tamil Nadu, it is called ‘Pongal’.

One special feature of this festival in the Western Indian State of Gujarat is the beautiful ‘KITE FESTIVAL’. It is almost a week long event and attracts people from all over the world.
The skies are dotted with exquisite creations which are truly lovely.
 

Some lovely kites are being sold all throughout this month, here in our city too.

 

View Full Album

 

 

We decided to have our own bonfire and barbecue last night on the terrace.
This will be our last ‘January Fest’ here before we move to Delhi and we decided to have fun on the terrace one last time.

Our plan was a rustic, traditional ‘Barbecue Night’, without the electric grill or the rotisserie, which meant Mummy and Daddy had to go to the woods to collect fire-wood and hunt down a bird or two.

 

 

Or so we thought till we saw these pictures!

Ha! Not only did our chicken come out of a super-market shelf, Daddy bought our wood at this shop he found!

 

 

 

Our make-shift grilling board, though, was more in line with our ‘rustic’ plans!

 
 

We were a little doubtful initially, about the fire. The crackling noises disturbed us a bit.
And believe it or not, our Puppy brother turned out to be the bravest of us all!!

 

 

He was the first to go upstairs to investigate the goings-on!! And then, he settled down with Mummy beside the fire.

 

I, Ginger, chose the Safest place- Daddy cushion!

 

 
Now, there isn’t such a thing invented or discovered yet that can keep Buddy away from yummy food.
And of course, the crackling fire was no exception!

 

 

 

Everything went into the fire....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ...and Thankfully came out!

 

We had a lovely time last night, and collected warm memories of our time in this home.

 
 
Today morning, we all went to the rocks for our walk.
 
Now, we do believe that whatever happens actually happens for a good reason, however small or inconsequential.
I, Buddy, was complaining the other day about Mummy not finding the time to help me with my ‘Special Morning Walk’ post.
Good that that happened. Because, after our walk today morning, I have some nice photographs for you.
We will definitely post them in our next post.

 

Have a good weekend, Everybuddy

Wags,

Ginger, Buddy and Shadow