Makar Sankranti Festival

Makar Sankranti is also known as Maghi or Makara Sankranti. The festival is celebrated by Hindus and is dedicated to Surya, who is Sun God in the Hindu realm. This year, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 15, 2020. Therefore, the festival should mark the first day when the sun sets in Capricorn, also known as Makara. Makar Sankranti also marks the end of the month when the winter solstice, also called the darkest night of the year. It also shows us that the long days are here again. According to Hindu tradition, Makar Sankranti also marks the beginning of Uttarayana, an exciting six-month period.

Makar Sankranti festival Across India

One of the most special things about this festival is that it happens to be one of the few ancient Hindu festivals on the solar system.

Hindus celebrate their festivals like the lunar calendar. The Hindu calendar itself is created as the moon in nature. As the festival is celebrated as in all the solar cycles it falls on the same day in the Gregorian calendar - January 14. There are some years, however, when this date changes by the day. Much of the blame, in this case, can be placed on the complex movement of the earth and the sun. These years are rare. Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India and is named after different states.

 Sikhs and Hindus in northern India call it Lohri, while in central India it is known as Sukarat. Hindus in Assam call it Bhogali Bihu. Tamil Nadu and other parts of southern India call it Pongal.

How is Makar Sankranti Festival performed?

As can be the case with almost any other event in India Makar Sankranti is celebrated with many decorations. People wear fresh and deliciously made home-made garments that are often made of jaggery, gur and til. In some parts, the Kitchen is also edible. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Pongal and people eat rice, boiled in fresh milk and jaggery. The bowl is made more garnished with toppings of cashew nuts, brown sugar, and raisins.

Other important parts of the festival are fairs or food, fires, dance, banquets, and flying kites. In fact, Diana L Eck, a Harvard University professor and an expert in Indology said the Magha Mela was also mentioned in the Mahabharata. This means the festival has been around for almost 2000 years. On this day, many people visit the holy rivers and lakes for them and will take a shower while admiring the sun. Makar Sankranti is back with Kumbh Mela, who happens to be one of the biggest travelers in the world every 12 years. It is estimated that approximately 40 million to 100 million people are equally active.

During the event, people recite a prayer offered by Surya and then take a shower. It happened during a riot called Prayaga. This is where the Ganga River meets the Yamuna River. These two rivers have also been given the position of deity in the Indian pantheon. Kumbh Mela is said to have been started by a sage named Adi Shankara.

Makar Sankranti is a good festival, which is why people donate things to the poor and the poor. Some of the items donated include food, blankets, clothing and more. Mark Sankranti will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

…We wish you all a very happy Maker Sankranti…