Rice is a comfort food and is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Rice is not just the food craved by many for its taste but also very healthy. There are quite a lot of rice variants with each possessing its own taste, aroma and flavor. This amazing rice loved by many is chosen to play the lead in their everyday meal. Rice isn’t just an important food; it is also undeniably an integral part of many of our religious ceremonies, not just in India but throughout the world. India is a land of festivals. Every festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm to represent our culture. The annual calendar has many festivals celebrating the harvest cycle of rice and that says how undeniable rice has become in our lives.
The rituals rejoicing the harvest of rice are celebrated in different parts of India commemorating the farmers who bring it to our plates. Among many festivals celebrated across India, Pongal is a significant one. It is a major festival of South India celebrated annually in the month of January. This beautiful festival honoring agriculture and our nature is celebrated by preparing the sweet and mouthwatering dish made out of rice which is called by the name Pongal itself. Then comes the Na-Khuwa Bhooj celebrated in the tribal homes of rural Assam. It is celebrated after the harvest of the paddy by serving the freshly yielded rice with a variety of seasonal delicacies which is a retreat to one’s taste buds.
The list doesn’t end here; there are lots of harvest festivals celebrated in India. To name a few- Makar Sankranti, Baisakhi, Lohri, Gudi Padwa, Vishu, Nabanna and much more. All these festivals symbolize the same but celebrated under different names in different parts of the country. Every ritual is celebrated with rice playing the starring role and food is believed to be another version of the divine almighty and is worshipped as God. All these rituals are celebrated by offering the first serve of rice to the God and then feasted with the dear relatives and friends. These festivals take the pride of bringing people together, germinating the thought of living happily with our dear ones around and the joy in sharing.
The magnificence of Rice is celebrated throughout the world and is the most loved. Rice deserves to be delighted and celebrated and is not worth to be wasted. Rice does wonders to your well-being mentally and physically as well. Rice makes every celebration nice!
