Thanks Giving Day: Indian Perspective

It's generally believed that Thanksgiving is modelled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. This was a rather disorderly affair, but it sealed a treaty between the two groups that lasted until King Philip's War (1675-76), in which hundreds of colonists and thousands of Native Americans lost their lives. Religions belief of the New England colonists were on of reasons to regularly celebrating "Thanksgivings," days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought. This American holiday is basically a mixture of politics, religion and economics; it is particularly rich in legend and symbolism, and the traditional fare of the Thanksgiving meal. Best part of thanksgivings in western context is that it gives them occasion to meet the family members.

Indian version of Thanksgiving is call Makersankranti ((Khichri, Lohari or onam)) clelbrated with full of joy with religious belief and social gathering. This harvest festival celebrated all over the India by different names. In Punjab area is called Lohri, in north India it is known as Makarsankranti (Khichari) and in south India it is known as Onam. It has scientific reasons apart from celebration of the harvest. It is basically worshipping of Sun who change it course to the Makar Rasi so, poit weather satarted become worm and gradually summer seasons comes.

India is in quite different foundation than USA and Canada, which is a colony or country of migrants. People of oriental countries like India connect and showing gratitude to the Nature for providing land and many other vital means of life. Americans do have it with indigenous people. But the difference is, they respect the nature as equal and oriental countries where people are living for generations they respect the nature as god. And they remain submissive to the nature.

Despite different history and religious rituals rated to Thanksgiving in USA and Canada and makra sankranti or Lohiri in India, both are basically a harvest festival, a festival that is celebrated to appreciate and thanks the blessings of the harvest of the previous year. In short it is just like Makar Sankranti in India's which most popular festival is.

It being the harvest festival, the farmers are completely forgotten! Instead, we are busy making merry and enjoying by ourselves. It's time we include the farmers in the festivities too. We can take a pledge on this Thanksgiving that we not only remember and respect the farmers but also help them in their agriculture and respect them.