Bhogi
Bhogi (Kannada: ಭೋಗಿ,Telugu: భోగి,Tamil: போகி) is the first day of the four-day Pongal festival.
It falls on last day of Agrahāyaṇa or Mārgaśīrṣa month of Hindu Solar Calendar, which is 13 January by the Gregorian calendar. It is the day before Makar Sankranti, celebrated widely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
| Bhogi | |
|---|---|
 Bhogi fire at Sri Balakrishna Towers, Gorantla, Guntur | |
| Official name | Bhogi |
| Also called | Bhōgi, Lōhri |
| Observed by | Hindus in North India, South India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia |
| Type | Seasonal, traditional |
| Significance | Midwinter festival |
| Celebrations | Bonfire |
| Observances | Bonfire |
| Date | Last day of Agrahayana month of Hindu calendar |
| Related to | Makar Sankranti Bihu (Bhogali / Magh / Bhogi in Tamil,Telugu) lohri |
On Bhogi, people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn, people light bonfires with logs of wood, other solid-fuels, and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful. This marks the end of the year's accounts and the beginning of new accounts on the first day of the harvest on the following day. Lord Indra is worshipped during the Pongal festival for the blessing of rains.
Kaappu Kattu, a tradition of tying leaves of Azadirachta indica, Senna auriculata, Aerva lanata in the roofs of houses and residential areas is practiced in Kongu Nadu.
In Maharashtra, people eat roti made of Bajra sprinkled with til and mix vegetable gravy which includes palak, carrot, peas, green chana, papdi, etc.
See also
References