Page 234 - New Medley 3 Semester 2

a special sweet dish is prepared on this day. Everybody wears new clothes

on this day.

The Harvest Festivals
At the time of harvesting of crops, the farmers are happy, as they see

the result of their hard work. The people in different states celebrate this

occasion in their own way. Some of the harvest festivals are Baisakhi,
Bihu, Onam and Pongal.

Baisakhi

Baisakhi is the harvest festival of North India, especially Punjab. It is
usually celebrated on 13 April every year. It also celebrates the founding of

Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh. Bhangra and Gidda are performed
to the beat of the dhol (drum).

Bihu

It is a popular harvest festival in Assam. It is celebrated thrice a year.
The young girls wear traditional dresses and perform special Bihu dances.

The main attractions of the festival are buffalo fights, bonfires, dancing,
singing and feasting.

Pongal

It is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is celebrated in the month

of January for three days. After harvesting paddy, people worship Rain
God, Sun God and cows. Rice cooked in milk and jaggery is called Pongal.
The cows are fed with Pongal rice.

Onam

It is the harvest festival in Kerala. It is also

called the Festival of Flowers. The main
attractions are the decorated elephants and

the snake-boat races. During the festival,
a special meal is served on banana leaves.

Snake-boat race

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