Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is observed in the Hindu lunar month of Magh. Unlike other Hindu festivals with varying dates, Makar Sankranti consistently falls each year on January 14th or 15th. This is due to its reliance on the Solar Calendar rather than the Luni-Solar Calendar. As a solar event, the festival generally occurs on January 14th, but in some years, when the Sun enters Makara Rashi after sunset on the 14th, it is celebrated on January 15th. This marks the Sun's entry into the Capricorn sign (Makara) and the beginning of the auspicious Uttarayana phase, considered the ideal time for achieving 'mukti' (liberation).

According to a legend from the Mahabharata, Bhishma awaited Uttarayan to breathe his last. Wounded fatally in the Mahabharata war with arrows piercing his entire body, Bhishma endured Fifty-One nights on a bed of arrows before finally succumbing. He chose the auspicious day of Uttarayan to attain Mukti, seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Interesting facts about Makar Sankranti

1: Makar Sankranti is a unique Hindu festival that follows the solar cycle, known as Narayan, unlike most other festivals in the Hindu tradition, which are determined by the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar.

2: It's not widely known that Makar Sankranti consistently occurs on the same Gregorian date each year (January 14), except in rare instances when it shifts by a day due to the complex movements of the Earth and Sun.

3: The Earth's rotation influences the celebration date of Makar Sankranti. This change occurs because although the exact day of the winter or summer solstice remains relatively constant (within a one-day error), there is a slight shift in the alignment of the Earth's rotation axis with the sun.

4: Kite-flying in the olden days was typically done early in the morning when the sun's rays were bright but not harsh. This practice, believed to be beneficial for the skin and body, exposed individuals to the morning sun. Hindus thought this exposure would help clear harmful bacteria from their bodies, especially during the winter when infections and illnesses were common.

Makar Sankranti festivities vary across different states of India.

Makar Sankranti is widely celebrated in various states nationwide, each adding a unique cultural touch to the festivities with different names.

Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is a significant festival, especially for women. It is marked by preparing special dishes like Tilgudi Til laddus and Til Polis, which are exchanged among friends and family. During the festivities, people greet each other with the phrase "Til gul ghya god god bola" (accept these tilguds and speak sweet words).

Gujarat

Makar Sankranti is known as Uttarayan in Gujarat and falls on the Vad Satam of Posh according to the Gujarati calendar. The celebrations closely resemble those in Maharashtra, involving the preparation of sweets for exchange among relatives and friends, along with the tradition of flying kites. Elders in the family often present gifts to the younger members. Sankranti marks the onset of spring in Gujarat.

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, the festival is known as Khichdi or Kitcheri. As part of their celebrations, a month-long Kumbh Mela takes place at Prayag, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, where people come to take a holy dip.

Punjab

In Punjab, the festival is known as Maghi. Celebrated in the heart of winter, people light bonfires on the eve of Sankranti (Lohri) and engage in lively dances around the Lohri fire. The occasion is marked by celebrating the abundant harvest through traditional bhangra dance and festive feasts.

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the Pongal festival. On the eve of Pongal, bonfires are lit, and old possessions are discarded into the flames. On Pongal day, women especially chant 'Pongalo Pongal' while boiling rice in a pot of milk sweetened with jaggery. The Pongal festival spans four days, starting with Bhogi Pongal on January 14 and concluding with Kaanum Pongal on January 17, according to the Tamil Calendar.

West Bengal

In West Bengal, Makar Sankranti occurs on the final day of the month of Paush. Hindus participate in a sacred bath known as Millat Ganga Sagar (Ganga Sagar Snan) in the Ganges, believed to revive the ashes of 60,000 ancestors of Bhagirat.

Kerala

Makar Sankranti is observed as Makara Vilakku in Kerala. People from across South India gather at Sabarimala to witness the Makara Jyoti. Devotees worship Swami Ayyappa, the deity of Sabarimala, and offer food as part of the celebrations.

Karnataka

Makar Sankranti, known as Suggi in Karnataka, is a farmers' festival. They present offerings of delicacies made from sesame, groundnuts, and coconuts sweetened with jaggery in a ritual called Ellu Birodhu.

Andhra Pradesh

Makar Sankranti holds significance for farmers and is celebrated as a three-day festival. People participate in rituals such as discarding old items into a bonfire (Bhogi), adorning house entrances with rangoli designs, chanting prayers, and exchanging greetings. According to the Telugu Calendar, it is observed on the Krishna Sapthami of Pausa.

Bihar

The Makar Sankranti festivities in Bihar, known as Sakaarat or Kichdi, closely resemble the celebrations in Uttar Pradesh. Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganges, and a month-long Kumbh Mela is also hosted as part of the traditions.

Rajasthan

Makar Sankranti, locally known as "Sakraat," holds great significance in Rajasthan. The skies above the Pink City, Jaipur, and other regions in Western India are beautifully decorated with colorful kites during this festive occasion. In addition to flying kites, Rajasthan observes various rituals, including preparing and exchanging homemade sweets, participating in the lavish "Sakraat Bhoj" feast, and the tradition of women exchanging household or makeup articles as a symbol of shared joy and harmony.