Lohri and Makar Sankranti Quiz: How Well Do You Know These Harvest Festivals?

Lohri is an annual harvest festival celebrated in parts of North Indians. Celebrated on January 13 every year, this festival is celebrated to mark the passing of the winter solstice and the end of winter. It is celebrated primarily in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan and also other regions of northern India such as Duggar and Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

A day after Lohri, people in other parts of the country celebrate Makar Sankranti, also referred to as Uttarāyana, Makara, or simply Sankrānti. This is also a a mid-winter harvest festival in India, that is typically celebrated on the January 14 annually (January 15 on a leap year). The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names including Sankranthi or Peddha Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Khichari in Bhojpuri region, Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Makaravilakku in Kerala, Makara sankranti in Karnataka, Maghi Sangrand in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain (Uttarayana) in Jammu, Sakrat in Haryana, Sakraat in Rajasthan, Sukarat in central India, Uttarayana in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, Dahi Chura in Bihar, Makar Sankranti in Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal (also called Poush Sankranti or Mokor Sonkranti), Uttar Pradesh (also called Khichidi Sankranti), Uttarakhand (also called Uttarayani) or as simply, Maghe Sankranti (Nepal), Songkran (Thailand), Thingyan (Myanmar), Mohan Songkran (Cambodia), Til Sakraat in Mithila, and Shishur Senkrath (Kashmir).

As people in the northern area of our country celebrate Lohri today and gear up to celebrate Makar Sankranti on January 14, here's a fun quiz that you can solve with your friends to check who knows the most about these two Indian festivals. Answers are given after each question, reward yourself 1 mark for each correct answer.

1. Lohri is mainly celebrated in which state of India?

A. Rajasthan

B. Punjab

C. Odisha

D. West Bengal

Answer: B. Punjab

2. Which festival marks the sun’s entry into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara)?

A. Diwali

B. Pongal

C. Makar Sankranti

D. Holi

Answer: C. Makar Sankranti

3. What is the main ritual performed during Lohri?

A. Lighting lamps

B. Offering prayers in temples

C. Lighting a bonfire

D. Flying kites

Answer: C. Lighting a bonfire

4. Which crop is associated with Lohri celebrations?

A. Rice

B. Sugarcane

C. Wheat

D. Tea

Answer: C. Wheat

5. Makar Sankranti usually falls on which date?

A. January 1

B. January 10

C. January 14 or 15

D. January 25

Answer: C. January 14 or 15

6. What does ‘Uttarayan’ mean?

A. Southward movement of the sun

B. Northward movement of the sun

C. Rotation of the earth

D. Change of seasons

Answer: B. Northward movement of the sun

7. Which sweet is commonly prepared during Makar Sankranti?

A. Jalebi

B. Gulab jamun

C. Tilgul

D. Rasgulla

Answer: C. Tilgul

8. What do people throw into the Lohri bonfire?

A. Flowers and incense

B. Peanuts, popcorn, and revri

C. Rice and milk

D. Fruits and vegetables

Answer: B. Peanuts, popcorn, and revri

9. Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal in which state?

A. Karnataka

B. Andhra Pradesh

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Telangana

Answer: C. Tamil Nadu

10. Kite flying is especially popular during Makar Sankranti in which state?

A. Kerala

B. Gujarat

C. Himachal Pradesh

D. Jharkhand

Answer: B. Gujarat

11. Lohri is mainly celebrated to mark the end of which season?

A. Summer

B. Monsoon

C. Autumn

D. Winter

Answer: D. Winter

12. Which of the following is a traditional Lohri song?

A. Garba

B. Bhangra

C. Lohri folk song

D. Lavani

Answer: C. Lohri folk song

13. Which material is mainly used to make Makar Sankranti sweets?

A. Cocoa

B. Jaggery

C. Honey

D. Cream

Answer: B. Jaggery

14. Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Magh Bihu in which state?

A. Bihar

B. Assam

C. Manipur

D. Tripura

Answer: B. Assam

15. Which of the following values is commonly associated with both festivals?

A. Competition

B. Solitude

C. Sharing and togetherness

D. Wealth

Answer: C. Sharing and togetherness

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