A festival of worship, food, kite flying and joy combines to make Makar Sankranti. Every year on 14th or 15th January we celebrate makar Sankranti according to the Hindu calendar. The date comes as per solar cycle. The goddess sun is worshipped as the central attraction of the festival. This is a holy festival. People get a dip in the river early in the morning before sunrise. Different religion from different areas celebrates Makar Sankranti in their own way. The name also varies from the festival according to the places in India. But the main sign of warships and joy having a different variety of food is constant. A traditional makar Sankranti sweet is also common in almost all states of India.
People warships of god sun. They get a dip into the river and wishes god to be healthy and free of problems. As this is the festival of January so it also celebrated as a new year prospective. The different area has a different iconic view of celebrating this religious festival. In town, it is mainly celebrated with kite flying. People joy and fly kites of different colours. Kite flying competition is also organised in some places. This is one of the very fun activity of Makar Sankranti. We also fly kites with the whole of our family. In the village, we get another view of Makar Sankranti.
The significance is the same as joy and worship but the way of celebration differs. We see much different rice food known as “Pitha”. People wearing a new dress and singing the special makar Sankranti song. From some areas, people also come to ask for food, treat or money. They wear different costumes to make Lough and entertain people. Many kinds of cultural activity are also organised for children.
Why Makar Sankranti is celebrated?
The reason behind celebration makar Sankranti varies according to the religious perspective. The celebration of Makar Sankranti though has some scientific reason with the name. The festival is supposed to mark the first day when the sun is transiting into the Capricorn, also known as Makara. It is also sais that, the time of Makar Sankranti is the time to crop cutting. People believe that farmers take rest having a variety of food after cutting crops in a season. Kite flying activity is done in almost all over India which refers to fun and happiness. At last, we live in India and this the land of the festival. We Indian are very proud of our culture and festival we celebrate with joy.
Importance of Makar Sankranti
• The festival of Makar Sankranti is very important because it refers to the transition of sun into the zodiac house of Capricorn.
• Makar Sankranti promotes a feeling of sense of unity among peoples.
• People forget their past grievances and forgive one another.
• Since it is a harvest festival, it is of utmost importance for the farmers.
Celebrations of Makar Sankranti in various parts of India:
Holidays Makar Sankranti takes unique names and types in different parts of India. –
Goa and Maharashtra
Makar Sankranti celebrates three consecutive days in honour of the Goddess Sankranti, Kinkracant. The goddess Sankranti, who killed the demon for the interest of the public.
Men and boys fly kites, and married women celebrate the haldi-kumkum. Sweets make from barley and white sesame and distribute to people.
Odisha
According to mythology, ‘the God sun’ defeated his son Saturn and the lord of the constellations Makara visited him that day. It believes that Vishnu killed all the Asuras that day and buried their heads under the Mandar Parvat or mountain.
Each community celebrates Makar Sankranti, giving rituals to the Sun God. The Uttarayana Jatra from God Jagannath and the Uttarayana Vandapana also record in the Puri Temple.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Makara Sankranti celebrates four consecutive days in the region. On the first day of Bhogi, people burn wood fire and offer sweets. On Makar Sankranti day, people wear new clothes, pray to the Almighty, and offer food to their ancestors.
Women paint beautiful patterns with coloured powder on the ground. On Kanum Day, food offers to live beings, birds, and fish.
Farmers pay tribute to the elements of nature and provide gifts to the deities in the Mukans. Shuttlecocks, bullfighting, cockfights, and kites are some of the most popular activities.
Bihar and Jharkhand
Here Makar Sankranti celebrates on January 14 or 15. People eat Chura, gur, milk, cottage cheese, vegetables, and sesame sweets. Some people like flying kites. In the evening, people serve special khichdi with ghee, papad, chokha, and pickled cucumbers.
Delhi and Haryana
People in these places celebrate Sakrat or Sankranti with Hakra, Khir, and Ghi, while men visit their sisters with gifts at home. Women sing folk songs and give presents to relatives known as “manana.”
Karnataka
The festival is called Sugi. Girls wear new clothes and exchange sweets with other families using a mixture of white sesame sweets, dried coconut, peanuts, and spices. Women create beautiful rangoli from coloured powder on the ground. They decorate their cattels and taken out during the Kichu Hizud march.
Himachal Pradesh
During the festival, known as “Maga Saji” in the region, people get up early, bath in springs, and visit their neighbours.
They gather in temples to offer prayers and enjoy prasadam. In the evening, people sing “Netty” in a folk dance.
Kerala
People gather at the Makaravilaka festivals in the pilgrimage center of Sabarimala, see the star of Makar Joti and receive the blessings of Ayyappa.
Uttarakhand
During Makar Sankranti, people bathe in sacred rivers, participate in fairs and distribute khichdi. Children wear necklaces of various shapes made from ghee and flour.
Punjab
The festival knows Magee Sangrand, where people bathe early and light sesame oil lamps to drive away evil, wash away their sins, and bring prosperity.
Lohri: Punjabi is celebrated on January 13, the day before the Sangrand Magi Festival. Burning marks the end of winter and harvest, and children walk from house to house, collecting “til” or sesame, “gur” or mullah, “moon gophers” or peanuts, “fulia” or peanuts. The food distributes to the participants and thrown into the fire.
They take part in their famous bhangra dances and enjoy playing khichdi and khir.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
People from these states celebrate Makar Sankranti, offering local dishes such as fern, khir, pakodi, laddu, and other recipes. A charitable organisation provides gifts, fruits, khichdi, and similar things to people who exchange gifts. People fly kites and try to cut other people’s kites.
West Bengal
People in this state mark Makar Sankranti as “Push Sankranti” and offer sweets known as “Pittha” and worship the Goddess Lakshmi. People call the Maghe Sankranti Festival and worship Lord Siva in the mountains of Darjeeling. Many people come here to bath and pray at the Ganga Sagar Mela.
