Makara 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 Paush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and the 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 the 14th of January. It is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India.

Besides being a harvest festival, Makara Sankranti 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. From this day onwards, any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of the winter season and the 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 when 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 today attains moksha or salivation and has no rebirth.

Customs :

Flying colorful kites is an important custom in some parts of India. As Sankranti is good for donation activities many people are involved 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 are 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 start before 10 to 15 days all houses are cleaned and get a 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 a bath, and be ready with water & flowers for the sunrise. Worship the rising Sun, by offering water, and flowers with both hands & then pray with folded hands by chanting the Gayatri Mantra and praying for knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment to rise similarly 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 delicious food and in the evening many people visit temples. In some places, melas are observed, and many people take a dip in the holy rivers.

Different names :

• MakarSankranti: 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.

2025 Date: 14 January.