---Divya Muthu

Celebrating India’s Harvest Festivals at ISW Cultural and Language School
Our students recently participated in a culturally enriching assembly focused on the
harvest festivals of Sankranti, Lohri, and Pongal, thoughtfully presented by Jaimeen ji,
Avinash ji, and Richa ji. The assembly helped students understand the importance of
these festivals and how they are celebrated across different regions of India.
Sankranti is celebrated in many parts of India as a festival of gratitude for the harvest
and a time to welcome positivity, prosperity, and new beginnings. For Gujaratis, Makar
Sankranti (Uttarayan) is a joyful celebration of harvest, community, and tradition,
centered around kite flying, special foods, and togetherness. Kite flying is the highlight.
The sky is filled with colorful kites, and families gather on rooftops for friendly
competitions.

Lohri, primarily celebrated in North India, honors the harvest of winter crops. Lohri
(Eve of Sankranti): Celebrated with bonfires, folk songs, and dances (bhangra and
giddha). People offer peanuts, popcorn, and sweets to the fire,
Pongal, a major festival in South India, especially Tamil Nadu, is a four-day celebration
dedicated to thanking the Sun God, farmers, and cattle for a successful harvest. The
preparation of the Pongal dish represents prosperity and the joy of sharing.
Through this assembly, students learned that although these festivals are celebrated
differently across regions, they all share common values—gratitude, respect for nature,
community bonding, and cultural unity. Such learning experiences are central to the
mission of the ISW Cultural and Language School.
As part of our ongoing cultural curriculum, students will continue with bhajan practice,
nurturing a deeper connection to tradition through music and collective participation.
We thank our presenters for their time and dedication in making this assembly both
informative and meaningful for our students.