The day before Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri in Punjab. On this day the children go from door to door and collect funds for the community bonfires which are lit in the evening. Lohri is more of a community festival, where the birth of a son or the first year of marriage is celebrated with great fun and frolic. People gather around bonfires and offer sweets, crisp rice and popcorn to the flames. Songs are sung to the beat of vigorous claps and greetings are exchanged.

The Birthday of Shree Hanumanji - an incarnation of Lord Siva - falls this year on 15 April 2014. Shree Hanuman is considered as a Hindu deity of devotion, wisdom, strength, valor, agility and celibacy (gyan-gun sagar) who has the magical power to assume any shape. Hanuman Ji is also known as Maruti, Bajaranga Bali, Pavana Putra, Mahvira and Anjaneya is the son of the god of wind, Vayu and Anjani Devi.

In the Ramayana, India’s second epic written by Valmiki in the 3rd century BC.

• Hanuman is the Commander in Chief, of the army of King Sugriva (a Monkey King). Hanuman uses his ape like agility to fly over Lanka to find Sita and help Rama win the war against Ravana.
• During this same war, Ram's brother Lakshman gets wounded. To save his life, 4 special herbs from the Himalayas are needed. Hanuman offers to help. Unable to identify the Sanjeevani, a special medicinal herb, Hanuman flies back from the Himalayas and carving out and bringing back the entire mountain on the palm of his hand thereby saving Lakshman's life.

On Hanuman Jayanti, celebrations are held at Hanuman temples all over the world. Generally, verses from the "Hanuman Chalisa" are recited, wrestling games are held, idols are offered sindoor, paan, flowers and bananas. On this Special Day, Hindus are advised to observe fast, meditate on Hanuman and Lord Rama, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and spend the day in recalling his qualities and asking his blessings.

Ram Naumi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Lord Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. 

Lord Ram is the model of reason, right action and commendable virtues. Lord Ram represents an ideal man, as conceived by the Hindu mind. In the story of Ramayana, Ram's personality depicts him as the perfect son, devoted brother, true husband, trusted friend, ideal king, and a noble adversary. Sita Mata and Ram Bhagwanare the model wife and husband in the Hindu tradition.

Lord Ram was endowed with all the divine virtues, his character is unimaginably lofty and yet, it was not a creation of any writer’s fancy.  Lord Ram is so holy and perfect, that any attempt to find fault with him, will be a waste of time!  He was the ablest and most popular King, who ruled his subjects with love and affection, a great warrior, a great devotee of duty, a true Karma Yogi, a saint who stood undaunted against all calamities!  He demonstrated to the people how to lead an ideal life, which is the only way to attain and experience the Almighty. 

Lord Ram is depicted as a normal human being, while facing worldly temptation, passions and emotions in deeds and in thoughts.  Lord Ram is known as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ or the ablest person with self-restraint. 

If we read the Ramayan with a preconceived notion that Lord Ram is God, we will fail to appreciate the divine purpose of the Ramayan.  Through the Ramayan it is desired thathuman beings be inspired to lead a virtuous life, (like that of Ram) and attain the state of God consciousness by hard work, sincere devotion to duty, and by facing calamities and hardships for a noble cause