India: Divided by States, United by Festivals ! / 印度节日 - 多样性

India is noted as the the land of festivals and Indians too enjoy each and every festival with much zeal and fervor. Due to the varied culture and heritage of India, there are various religious as well as social festivals that are confined to specific regions of the country. However, there some festivals which know no boundaries and are celebrated by the people of all the communities irrespective of their caste, religion, creed etc. 

印度被认为是节日之地，印度人也喜欢每一个节日，热情洋溢。 由于印度不同的文化和传统，各种宗教和社会节日都只限于该国的特定地区。 但是，有些节日是不分国界的，不分种姓，宗教，信仰等，都是各族人民共同庆祝的。

Festive occasions not only bring joy but these festival celebrations help in strengthening the unity among the Indians. Festivals like Diwali, Eid and Christmas are enjoyed by all with the same spirit and fervor. Such festival celebrations where all are involved with the same enthusiasm spread a feeling of oneness among the Indians. 

节日活动不仅带来欢乐，而且这些节日庆典有利于加强印度人的团结。 不管是排灯节，开斋节和圣诞节等所有的节日都一样可以享受过节的热情。 所有节日庆祝方式和热情都会成为印度人中间传播。

There will be festivities galore across the length and breadth of India over the next few days. Even though large parts of the country are shivering under the influence of the intense cold waves, the fields are green again and the harvest is beckoning, the gods have woken up and the sun has begun its northward journey. There is enough and more reason to rejoice as India gear up for its harvest festivals.

在接下来的几天里，印度将会有各种各样的庆祝活动。 即使全国大部分地区都受到强烈的寒流的影响，很快就到春天，田野开始变绿，丰收的季节，神明醒来，太阳已经开始北上。 印度为丰收节庆祝，有充足的理由感到高兴。

Happy Lohri, Happy Makar Sankranti, Happy Pongal, Happy Uttarayan, Happy Maghi. Happy Bhogali Bihu…and so on… These festivals are sacred and celebrated in approximately every part of the country in myriad cultural forms with great dedication, devotion and gaiety. These festivals convey the same message and my heart fills with pride and immense love for my country. Since each festival has its own significance, the joy & fun associated with them are the same. No matter how different our cultures are, the message is always the same- Unity in Diversity.

Lohri快乐，Makar Sankranti快乐，Pongal快乐，Uttarayan快乐，Maghi快乐。 Bhogali Bihu快乐...等等...这些节日是神圣的，在全国各地以无数的文化形式，崇高的奉献精神，热诚和欢乐庆祝。 这些节日传达着同样的信念，我的心中充满了对我国的骄傲和的热爱。 由于每个节日都有其自身不同的意义，但他们传递的快乐和乐趣是相同的。 无论我们的文化如何不同，这个信念总是相同的。

In the Northern and eastern states, it's known as Makar Sankranti. The word "sankranti" in Sanskrit means "passage from one point to another, a transition". On Makar Sankranti, the sun moves into the zodiac sign — Makar (Capricorn) and it is considered to be one of the most important sankrantis of the year (there are 12 through the year). The days are now gradually getting longer, the longest night of the year is behind us – this is the period of uttarayan – the period when the sun travels north. The period of uttarayan is believed to be the day of the devatas (gods) (dakshinayan is night for them) and hence mortals hope to be showered with their bounty and express their gratitude for this bounty.

在印度的北部和东部各州，它被称为马卡尔Sankranti。 梵文中的“sankranti”一词的意思是“从一年中的上半年到下半年的中间的一个过渡”。 在Makar Sankranti，太阳进入星座 - 马卡尔（摩羯座），被认为是今年最重要的sankrantis之一（全年有12个）。 一年中最长的那个一个夜晚已经过去了，接下来夜晚会慢慢变短，白天越来越长 - 这是uttarayan--太阳向北行的阶段。 uttarayan时期被认为是devatas（神）（dakshinayan是他们的夜晚）的一天，因此凡人因为得到一年的丰收而表示感恩这样的恩惠。

Lohri is regarded as the coldest night of the winter in Punjab. On the night of Lohri, there are ritual fires around which families and 36 40932 36 14942 0 0 3560 0 0:00:11 0:00:04 0:00:07 3561communities gather, and sing and dance. The mesmerising blazing flames are fed with gazak (a traditional sweet of sesame and jaggery), popcorn, kheel and rewri. The sound of traditional folk songs and laughter pierces through the chilly winds and the warmth of the fire turns a cold night into a night of fun and frolic and thanksgiving.

lohri被认为冬季最寒冷的夜晚。 在lohri的夜晚，有的家庭和邻居聚集在一起的围着花堆唱歌跳舞。 令人着迷的熊熊燃烧的火焰还有gazak（芝麻和玉米的传统甜点），爆米花，kheel和rewri喂养的。 传统的民歌和笑声透过寒风和火焰的传递温暖，将寒冷的夜晚变成了一个充满乐趣，嬉戏和感恩的夜晚。

In the Southern parts of the country, the festival is variously known as Pongal (primarily Tamil Nadu) and Sankranti. The festivities last typically for three-four days. The day before Sankranti is Bhogi — a day when the old — old possessions (material) which are no longer useful and old thoughts which inhibit growth and movement are to be burnt in fire. The second day is Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu. The new rice is offered to the gods before being partaken by mortals. In a common ritual, the new rice is cooked in open pots with milk in open spaces and allowed to boil over. The boiling over (the word ponga implies this) is symbolic of prosperity and bounty. The next day is important — it is the day of Kanumma (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) or Mattu Pongal. It is a day when the cattle are worshipped — cows who sustain us with their milk and the bulls who help in tilling the land.

在印度的南部地区，这个节日有不同的名字叫Pongal（主要是泰米尔纳德邦）和Sankranti。 庆祝活动通常持续三天四天。 桑克兰蒂（Sankranti）是博吉（Bhogi）的那一天 - 第一天人们会把的旧的物品烧毁表示崭新的事物和思想的。 第二天是在泰米尔纳德邦泰国的Pongal。 人们会做白米饭祭奠神明。 普通的仪式就是米和牛奶放在锅里，然后煮沸。 沸腾。象征着繁荣和富饶。 第二天重要的 - 是Kanumma（安得拉邦和Telangana）或马图Pongal的一天也是对牛的崇拜 - 因为奶牛维持我们的牛奶和公牛帮助农民耕地。

In Assam, this is the time for Magha Bihu — celebrating the harvest. In most parts of the country, sankranti or sankrat or khichadi is characterised (with regional variations) by ritual bathing, flying kites (particularly in Gujarat and Maharashtra), til (sesame) ladoos or other delicacies made of til (sesame keeps the body warm), khichadi (primarily in UP and Bihar, khichadi is made of rice and lentils), daana (giving) and offering of food prepared lovingly from the new crop to the gods who nurtured it all along.

在阿萨姆邦，这是Magha Bihu的时刻 - 在全国大部分地区都会庆祝这个丰收节日，而区域不同，庆祝的仪式不同。洗澡，放风筝（特别是在古吉拉特邦和马哈拉施特拉邦），会用ladoos或其他美食让身体得到取暖，主要在UP和Bihar，khichadi是由米和扁豆制成的粥），daana（给予）贫穷的人提供食物，和用于祭拜神明。

Makar Sankranti is also the time for melas (fairs) on most major and minor river banks of the country. The ones at Prayag (Allahabad) and Gangasagar deserve special mention and a dip in the holy waters of the sangam on this day is considered to be a boon. It is also the day when thousands of pilgrims gather at the Sabarimala Temple to witness the makarjyothi.

Makar Sankranti也成为全国大部分主要和次要河流的集市。 在Prayag（阿拉哈巴德）和Gangasagar的那些河流值得特别提及，在这一天的sangam河流洗澡被认为是一个福音。 这也是成千上万的朝圣者聚集在Sabarimala寺庙祭拜makarjyothi的一天。

The festivities are truly representative of the diversity of our land. And yet there is subliminal unity in the thought behind these ritualistic celebrations. Bathing is symbolic of purification not only the physical body but also an essential cleansing of the mind and the soul. Daana or giving is perhaps the most important virtue of being human. It is enjoined upon us to first give and then partake for self-consumption only from what remains. The harvest is a gift of nature. The rituals of Sankranti exhort us to thank those elements that are external to human beings and are yet sine qua non for our lives and livelihoods. The Surya (sun), the agni (fire) and the cattle are worshipped because they are representatives of our environment, of vasudha (earth) and are essential to our being. Sankranti is a time to celebrate but it is also a time to introspect

庆祝活动真正代表了我们国家风俗的多样性。 然而，这些仪式庆典背后的思想是潜意识的统一。 沐浴不仅是身体净化的象征，也是精神和灵魂的净化。 daana（给予贫穷食物）也许是人类最重要的美德。 我们要求先给予，然后再自我消费。 收获是大自然的恩赐。 Sankranti的仪式叮嘱我们要感谢那些人类以外的因素，这对我们的生活和生计来说是必不可少的。 苏里亚（太阳），烈火（Agni）和牛是值得崇拜的，因为它们是我们的环境和瓦舒达（地球）的代表，对于我们的存在至关重要。 Sankranti是庆祝的时候，但这也是一个反思的时候

IIC (Indians In China) Wishes Everyone Happy Sankranti

IIC（印度人在中国）祝福大家Sankranti节日快乐https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=q1331q4z412&width=500&height=375&auto=0

Author: Garima Chaudhry

Let's Learn About India

If your work in china helps our Indian Community in anyways or can be inspirational to others for good, please write to us at [e-mail] . We would love to post and publish about your work.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---

• Editor's Picks

www.IndiansinChina.com

---

Please Scan & Add Official Wechat id of Indians in China to connect with other fellow Indians living in China thru wechat groups. (HaveSpecial Groups for Female only, Business Group, Cultural Exchange , Foodies,Yoga Group, Helping Madad Group, Indian Students Group, FMGE, Dental Students, Mandarin Learning, Music & Medical Assistance / Advice from Indian Doctors )