Happy Lohri!

As the harvest season beckons India, here's a look at the celebrations across India - from Lohri in North to Pongal in South.

Lohri is celebrated a day before Makara Sankranthi, as it marks the end of the winter season.

There is puja, involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolizes a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity. (AFP Photo)

The fire is also an image of energy and spiritual strength. And thus, the Lohri fire gets sanctified and is venerated like a deity.

Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production.

Lohri is one Punjab's most significant festival. Thus, the festival is symbolic of ripening of the crops and of copious harvest. (AFP Photo)

Offerings of peanuts, popcorn and sweets made of til- chirva, gajak and revri were made to propitiate fire as a symbol of the Sun God. (AFP Photo)

Singing and dancing form an intrinsic part of the celebrations. People wear bright clothes do the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol.

The central character of most Lohri songs is Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar.

Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. Understandably, though a bandit, he became a hero of all Punjabis.

People in villages put small amount of their crops into the Lohri fire to offer it to Fire God, symbolising that it will bring in prosperity among people.

Makara Sankranti, celebrated a day after Lohri, is another major harvest festival. It is celebrated on January 14 across various parts of India. Celebrated on January 14 across India, it honours and worships Saraswati Maa (Goddess of Knowledge).

People offer their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor for reaching to Sun God. (AFP Photo)

In this picture, a kitemaker prepares kites at his workshop in Amritsar. (AFP Photo)

Seen here, a shopkeeper shows balls of coloured kite thread to a young boy by a roadside in Amritsar. (AFP Photo)

In South, Pongal is celebrated to mark the harvest season. In Tamil, Pongal means 'boiling over or spill over'. The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future wishes for the family.

Seen here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and his daughter Kanimozhi along with other leaders during inauguration of Chennai Sangamam organised as part of Pongal celebrations in Chennai.