Makar Sankranti is a major festival of Hinduism. It is celebrated every year on 14 or 15 January. It is celebrated on this festival day in India with different names and customs.
At this festival, people celebrate and eat with khichdi and sesame jaggery laddus. Children and big kites also fly with great enthusiasm on the day of Makar Sankranti.
This festival always comes in the cold (winter) season, so people wear warm clothes and enjoy this day in light sunlight. Like every year, when the sun passes through the Tropic of Capricorn, it is on the same date 14 January.
A special thing about this festival is that it is related to geography and the condition of the sun.
Method of celebrating Makar Sankranti
In India, the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways in different states. Like in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka, people celebrate it as Sankranti. In Tamil Nadu (Chennai) it is celebrated as the Pongal festival.
It is celebrated in the form of. In Punjab and Haryana, it is celebrated as the Lohri festival. And in Assam, it is celebrated as Bihu. People celebrate this festival in their own way with full fervor across the country.
Making khichdi is considered to be the most important dish on the day of Makar Sankranti, and many types of laddus like Tilgud are made. All these are celebrated as a custom. The festival of Sankranti is called the festival of bathing and charity because on the day of this festival.
People wake up in the morning and take a bath first thing is considered to be the most important thing. And after bathing, some tilgud and rice are touched and kept on the side of the plate to donate, then when a beggar or beggar comes, give it to charity.
Many types of events are organized on the day of this festival, especially in the state of Gujarat, people fly kites in large numbers and organize kites. Flying kites are also considered to have a special significance. There are many types of kites.
People take kites according to their choice and fly them in the open field or on the roofs of the house with happiness. On the day of Makar Sankranti, people go and take bath in the rivers. After that, they do puja.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is given a lot of importance in India. It is said that as soon as the Sun passes through the Capricorn line after Uttarayan, then that day is called Makar Sankranti. And since then the night starts getting shorter and the days get longer.
Taking a bath in the Ganges on the day of Sankranti washes away all the sins, such is the belief of people, that our inner soul becomes pure and pure, and the mind gets peace. By doing charity on that day, the obstacles of the people are removed.
According to the scriptures, Dakshinayana is considered to be a symbol of negative, i.e. the night of the gods, and Uttarayan is considered as the day of the gods, that is, a symbol of positive. That is why on this day chanting, penance, charity, bathing; shraddha, tarpan, etc. have special significance.
It is said that the donation given on this auspicious occasion increases by a hundred times and is received again. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the donation of Ganga Snan and Ganga Ghat is considered very auspicious.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Makar Sankranti is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated in India and Nepal with great enthusiasm and fervor. It marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn, symbolizing the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. This auspicious occasion is not just about the change in seasons but also about the renewal of hope, prosperity, and unity.
During Makar Sankranti, people come together, share traditional delicacies like tilgul (sesame seed laddoos) and fly kites, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the dispelling of darkness. The festival also holds religious significance as devotees take holy dips in sacred rivers, seeking blessings and purification.
Makar Sankranti reflects the rich cultural diversity of India, with various regional customs and traditions. It showcases the unity and harmony among people, irrespective of their differences. The festival brings families and friends together, strengthening bonds and fostering a sense of togetherness.
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