Makar Sankranti Festival

January 14, 2023

Makar Sankranti is an important festival that marks the day the sun transits into Makara Rashi or Capricorn zodiac. As per the solar calendar, it falls on 14 January every year. The festival also marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new harvest season. It has both seasonal and religious significance. It is considered one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways across India under different names, each region having its unique customs and traditions.

In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Thai Pongal, where the festival is celebrated for four days, with the first day being Bhogi Pongal, the second day being Surya Pongal, the third day being Mattu Pongal and the fourth day being Kaanum Pongal.
In Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Uttar Pradesh, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti.
In Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is celebrated as Uttarayana, and people take a dip in holy rivers and perform rituals to mark the beginning of the sun’s northward journey.
In Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, it is celebrated as Lohri, where people light bonfires and perform folk dances around them.
In Assam, it is celebrated as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, where people light bonfires and feast on traditional food.

Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

Sankranti day is dedicated to Lord Sun. It also refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. This is the beginning of the month of Magh. To recompense for the distinction that happens due to the revolution around the sun, every 80 years the day of Sankranti is deferred by one day. From the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan journey. Therefore, this festival is also known as Uttarayan. On this day, farmers across the country wish for a good harvest.

Makar Sankranti 2023: Surya Namaskar Demonstration Programme

Surya Namaskar Demonstration programme will be organized by the Ministry of AYUSH on 14 January 2023 for 75 lakh people globally on Makar Sankranti to commemorate the journey of the Sun to the Northern Hemisphere. According to pib, this occasion commemorates thanksgiving to ‘Mother Nature’ for bestowing health, wealth, and happiness. Exposure to the Sun further provides the human body with Vitamin D, which has been widely recommended in all medical branches around the world.

Makar Sankranti History

Sankranti is deemed a Deity. As per the legend, Sankranti killed a devil named Sankarasur. The day next to Makar Sankrant is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On this day, Devi slew the devil Kinkarasur. The information of Makar Sankranti is available in Panchang. The Panchang is the Hindu Almanac that provides information on the age, form, clothing, direction, and movement of Sankranti.

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