Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. On this day Sun moves from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. Makar Sankranti is perhaps the only Indian festival whose date always falls on the same day every year i.e on 14th January.It is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India.

Makara Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

Significance :

It is believed that uttaryana marks the beginning of the days of Devtas and it is also believed that it was on this day that lord Vishnu ended the terror of asuras or demons and buried their heads under mandar parvat. This festival also dates back to Mahabharata times where it is believed that Bhishma waited till this day to depart from this even after being wounded by the arrows. Popular belief is that one who dies on this day attains moksha or salivation and has no rebirth.

Customs :

Flying colourful kites is important custom in some parts of india. As sankranti is good for donation activites many people involve in this.The customs followed in villages of India, on Makar Sankranti, have a unique charm. Varied festivities including singing and dancing mark the celebrations of the harvest festival. Courtyards and swept and sprinkled with a mixture of water and cow dung, while the homes are scrub-cleaned for the festival. People would make Rangoli or Kolam in their courtyard. The villagers extend their gratitude to Mother Nature for a good crop.

Celebrations :

Celebrations starts before 10 to 15 days all houses are cleaned and gets fresh look during this festive season. Kolams or Rangolis will give a festive look before every house Particularly in villages. On makar sankranti day Get up early in the morning, before sunrise, have bath and be ready with water & flowers for the sunrise. Worship the rising Sun, by offering water, flowers with both the hands & then pray with folded hands by chanting the Gayatri Mantra and pray for knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment to rise in the similar way to greater & greater heights.Do tarpan for your ancestors. Offer water to the ancestors while praying for their blessings. All the members of the family meet together and have a delicious food and in the evening many people visit temples.In some places melas are observed, and many people take dip in the holy rivers.

Different names :

Makar Sankranti: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka,Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal
Uttarayan: Gujarat and Rajasthan
Maghi: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
Lohri: Punjab
Pongal: Tamil Nadu
Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu: Assam Valley
Shishur Saenkraat: Kashmir Valley
Khichdi: Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar.