Pausha: The Winter Sun ☀️
The Land & The Story: Grab your sweaters! Pausha (December-January) is the tenth month and is the peak of Hemanta Ritu (Pre-winter). Named after the star Pushya, this month has the shortest days and longest nights of the year. But don't worry, the sun is about to get stronger! This month is famous for Makar Sankranti, a festival where we celebrate the sun moving northward. People fly colorful kites in the sky and eat sweets made of sesame seeds (Til) and jaggery (Gur). In Punjab, it’s celebrated as Lohri with big bonfires, and in Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal, where people cook a delicious rice dish to thank the sun and the cows.
🌍 Conservation Corner: Many people use bonfires in winter. We should be careful to only burn dry wood and leaves, and never burn plastic, as it makes the air very dirty to breathe.
🌍 Knowledge Check:
- What is the main festival celebrated during the transition of Pausha?
- Why do people fly kites during this month?
Big Word: Solstice - The time of year when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator (the Winter Solstice happens in Pausha!).
If you liked this, try our Magha: The Month of Knowledge