Malanka(Ukraine,Russia,Belarus)
Folk celebration of the Old New Year in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.
Features masquerades, caroling, and traditional rituals.
Malanka, celebrated on January 13, marks the beginning of the Julian calendar’s New Year.
Participants don elaborate masks and costumes to represent animals and mythical figures in door-to-door visits.
Groups sing carols known as “Shchedrivky” and perform playful skits to bring luck and prosperity.
Traditional foods like kutia and varenyky are shared during festive gatherings.
The holiday blends pagan harvest customs with Orthodox Christian traditions.
Malanka remains a vibrant expression of Eastern Slavic folk culture, full of music, dance, and community spirit.
Malanka
Ukraine
Russia
Belarus
Bhogi(Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu)
First day of the harvest festival Pongal in South India, honoring Lord Indra.
Features bonfires and community gatherings.
Bhogi, observed on January 13, marks the start of the four-day Pongal harvest festival in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
On this day, households light bonfires to discard old items and welcome renewal.
Devotees offer prayers to Lord Indra, the deity of rain, seeking blessings for prosperous harvests.
Homes are decorated with kolam art and vibrant rangoli patterns.
Communities share festive meals featuring freshly harvested grains and sweet dishes.
Bhogi sets a tone of gratitude and hope for the agricultural season ahead.
Bhogi
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
Lohri(Punjab,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh)
Harvest festival in Punjab and surrounding regions, marked by bonfires and festive singing.
Lohri falls on the eve of Makar Sankranti, celebrating the harvest of sugarcane and rabi crops.
Families gather around blazing bonfires, throwing sesame seeds, popcorn, and rewri into the flames.
Traditional Punjabi folk songs and dances like bhangra and gidda enliven the night.
Special foods such as gur (jaggery), peanuts, and makki di roti are shared among neighbors.
The festival symbolizes the end of the winter solstice and the arrival of longer days.
Lohri fosters community bonding, thanksgiving, and hopes for a bountiful year.
Lohri
Punjab
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Uruka(Assam)
Eve of the Magh Bihu harvest festival in Assam, marked by communal feasts and bonfires.
Uruka, celebrated on January 13 in Assam, is the eve of the Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) harvest festival.
Villages and families build makeshift huts called “bhelaghar” from bamboo, leaves, and thatch.
Neighbors gather for communal feasts featuring pithas and other traditional delicacies.
Youth organize bonfires and outdoor celebrations through the night.
The festival honors the season’s harvest and encourages sharing of food and goodwill.
Uruka sets the stage for the climax of Bihu festivities on the following day.
Uruka
Assam