India, Jan. 30 -- You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.

- Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet and Nobel laureate

Spring is around the corner, and the earth stirs to life, adorning herself with vibrant blooms and golden hues, a bride in her resplendent finery. The gentle warmth of sunshine kisses her awakening form, promising the revival of joy and abundance. Whispering breezes play her bridal song, while trees unfurl their green veils. Like a devoted lover, the earth prepares to embrace her radiant suitor, the sun, in a timeless dance of renewal.

This time of the year unfurls a kaleidoscope of festivity across the nation, with North India awash in vibrant hues of joy and celebration. It begins with Lohri, a heartfe...