Makar Sankranthi, or Sankranti is a popular Indian festival. It is celebrated in many parts of the country and also in some other parts of the world with great zeal and enthusiasm. It is a harvest festival which is basically celebrated in the Hindu communities. In Indian, the states of Bihar, Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu celebrate the festival with great fervor and gusto. In Tamil Nadu the festival is known as Pongal, in Assam as Bhogali Bihu, in Punjab, as Lohiri, in Gujarat and Rajasthan, as Uttararayan. Outside India, the festival is given due importance in the countries like Nepal where it is celebrated as Maghe Sakrati or Maghi, in Thailand where it is named as Songkran and in Myanmar where it is called Thingyan.
History of Makar Sankranti: This festival is celebrated to worship the sun by considering it as the god. The history of Hinduism says the death of veteran Bhishma as the reason for this festival. As per the history, stated in the book Maha bharath, the day when Bhishma died is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. The history says that Bhishma was hit by the arrow from Arjun’s bow earlier, but he was on the bed made up of the arrows from Arjun for days and died in this particular day. So, the people who are dying in this particular day are believed have no rebirth after that in Hinduism.
Makar Sankranti Way of celebration: People are using the water to dip towards the sun. Some people will travel to the Ganga River to dip the water from it to the sun. There is a strong belief that the girl who does this will get good bride groom and the boys will get good bride.
In Maharashtra, people use to share grains together as acknowledgement of celebrating the Makar Sankranti. Maker sankranti signals the beginning of spring season and end of the winter season… After the makar sankranti the days are going to be longer and heater.
Kerala: The 40 days anushthana by the devotees of Ayyappa ends on this day in Sabarimala with a big festival.
Assam: In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu.
Coastal Region: In the coastal regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated to Indra.
Gujarat: This is one of the major festivals in the state of Gujarat. It is a two day festival here.
- 14 January is Uttarayan
- 15 January is Vasi-Uttarayan(stale Uttarayan)
Gujarati’s keenly await this festival to fly kites. In India the generic name for a kite is ‘Patang’. These kites are made of special light-wight kite paper and bamboo and are mostly rhombus shaped with central spine and a single bow.In Gujarat, before the actual day of Makar sankranti, about the end of December, kids and young people start enjoying Uttarayan. Undhiyu (mixed winter vegetable) and chikkis (made from til (sesame), peanuts and jaggery) are the special festival recipes savoured on this day.
Charity forms a significant part of the traditions of Makar Sankranti. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, one can witness people donating Khichdi (rice cooked with lentils) to the poor and needy. People in Andhra Pradesh also indulge themselves in charity of clothes. Taking a holy dip on the day is considered auspicious and hence, it is a popular custom followed in Uttar Pradesh, where people flock the religious places in the state to take a ceremonious bath in holy River Ganga. It is believed that taking dip in holy rivers provides moksha (salvation) from all the sins done previously.
With Great Devotion,
Fervor and Gaiety,
With Rays of Joy and Hope,
Wish You
HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI…
