India is known for celebrating various festivals yearly, no matter your religion. In this article, we are sharing information about the festivals in January 2023.
According to English calendars, January is the first month of the year, and our festivals start this month. Indian calendars also have 12 months and 365 days but new years dates and names of months are different. Many festivals in India have various rituals and traditions, and these festivals are celebrated widely across the country. The Indian calendar, which is the Shaka Calendar, is based on the luni solar system and variable names from state to state.
Indian Festival Calendar depends on the movement of the Sun and the Moon. So, there are 30 different calendars to set festivals of the discrete region, culture and custom. Hindu Panchang or Panchagam is used for auspicious Puja timings and setting Indian festivals on the Gregorian calendar. Let’s have a look at all Hindu festivals in January 2023.
List of Festivals in January 2023
1. Lohri 2023 Date
Lohri is celebrated majorly by the Sikhs and Punjabis in North India. Every year it is celebrated on January 13 to mark the beginning of longer days after the winter solstice. Lohri is a harvest festival that marks the end of winter. It celebrates the harvesting of the Rabi crop in Punjab.
In other parts of India, it is known as Makar Sankranti. Igniting a bonfire at night is the core ritual of the Lohri celebration. Lohri is an auspicious occasion for newly-married couples to participate in festive rituals and seek blessings from their elders. Lohri 2023 date is 13 January.
2. Pongal, Uttarayan, Makar Sankranti 2023 Date
Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals in South India, mainly in Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls in mid-January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan – the sun’s journey northwards. Pongal also marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, and is celebrated over four days. The Pongal festival lasts for four days. This four days long festival of Tamil Nadu is celebrated for showing gratitude to nature. Pongal 2023 will start on Sunday, 15 January and ends on Wednesday, 18 January.
Makar Sankranti is one of the important festivals in the Hindu calendar. Festival is to take a holy dip in the water and offer prayers to the Sun God. According to the hindu calender this is first festivals in January 2023. The word Makar Sankranti derives from two words Makar and Sankranti. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition, which makes Makar Sankranti means the transition of the sun in the Capricorn.
On Uttarayan, millions of people take a holy dip at the sacred rivers especially in Ganga and Yamuna – especially at Prayag or Sangam or Allahabad. Thousands of people also take a holy dip at Gangasagar in Bengal. From young kids to elders, couples to bachelors, families to friends, everyone is in a great mood and they celebrate Uttarayan in Gujarat. Uttarayan 2023 Date is Saturday, 14 January.
3. Basant Panchmi, Saraswati Puja, Republic Day 2023 Date
Vasant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja in honor of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in late January or February. Basant Panchmi and Saraswati Puja 2023 date is Thursday, 26 January.
Keep visiting The Ganga Times for such beautiful articles. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Koo for regular updates.