From Pongal to Bihu: Beverages That Complement India’s Harvest Celebrations

The harvest festivals of India span a wide spectrum of celebrations—Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Lohri in Punjab and Haryana, Bihu in Assam, Poush Sankranti in West Bengal, and many more across the country—each distinct in ritual and cuisine, yet united by outdoor gatherings, shared meals, and the simple joy of coming together as winter gives way to spring. Across regions, traditional foods like tilgul, pongal, puran poli and sesame-jaggery preparations take centre stage.

Alongside them, beverages play a quieter but equally important role, fitting naturally into the pauses and transitions of a festive day. Below is a curated selection of beverages that find their place not through spectacle, but through how well they complement the rhythm of the festivities.

1. Tata Coffee Grand Cold Coffee

Harvest festival celebrations often stretch across the day, moving between festive meals, rooftop or outdoor gatherings, short visits to relatives, and community events. These in-between moments naturally call for brief pauses to catch up rather than formal sit-down breaks.

Tata Coffee Grand Cold Coffee fits perfectly into these interludes. The brand’s recent “Too Cool to Have It Solo” campaign celebrates how shared experiences, even fleeting ones, can spark meaningful connections. As a ready-to-drink beverage with international coffee flavours, it suits casual, spontaneous breaks, offering a quick refresh and a sense of familiarity amid lively celebrations.

2. Tetley Kombucha

Harvest festive foods such as pongal, tilgul, puran poli or gajak are often rich and indulgent, which makes lighter beverage options a welcome counterpoint. Kombucha, a fermented, mildly sparkling, tea-based drink, offers a refreshing pause and is often associated with supporting digestion.

Tetley Kombucha, available in Ginger Lemon and Peach variants and formulated with prebiotic fibre, fits comfortably into moments between activities or after meals. Its light, fizzy profile aligns well with the growing preference for more balanced, wellness-forward choices during food-heavy celebrations.

3. Tata Gluco+

Harvest festivals involve a fair amount of outdoor activities such as kite flying, visiting relatives, dancing and community gatherings. In the middle of all this, simple, functional hydration becomes essential.

Tata Gluco+, with its range of flavours including Orange, Lemon, Lychee, Green Apple, and Berry, offers an easy way to stay refreshed through active days. It reflects how such beverages are increasingly being seen not just as quick fixes, but as practical companions to long, energetic celebrations.

4. Zip Zap

Festive afternoons and early evenings often turn into informal social gatherings, especially among younger family members and peer groups. Zip Zap, with its youthful positioning and accessible pricing, fits naturally into these high-energy, casual settings where the focus is on conversation, movement, and shared time rather than structured meals.

Staying true to its brand promise, “Jab Life Ki Zip Jaye, Zap Se Wapas Laaye,” it finds its place in moments that call for quick, easy refreshment without interrupting the flow of the day.

Harvest festivals across India are defined by rhythm and movement between homes, rooftops, fields, meals, and conversations. Beverage choices during these celebrations mirror this cadence, serving as quiet companions rather than centre-stage elements. From shared cold coffee moments to light kombucha sips and functional hydration, each finds relevance through occasion and context, complementing the day’s activities and connections rather than taking the spotlight.