Makar Sankranti celebration in India and abroad
Many festivals are celebrated in India, Makar Sankranti is the only Hindu festival celebrated on a certain day on January 14 of the solar calendar (English calendar). While all other Indian festivals are celebrated according to the lunar calendar (Hindu calendar), their date is different every year but this festival falls on the same day every year.
This cycle is interrupted only once in eight years, as the Sun's entry into Capricorn every year is delayed by 20 minutes, it is also predicted that from 2050 the festival will take place on January 15 and sometimes on the 16th This is what most of us do not know.
In 'Makar Sankranti' Makar means Capricorn (zodiac sign) and Sankranti means entry from one zodiac to another. When The Sun god (Suryadev) reaches Capricorn from Sagittarius, Makar Sankranti is celebrated.
In Hinduism, the month is divided into two parts Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha. Similarly, according to the position of the Sun, the year is also divided into two parts, Uttarayan and Dakshinayan. The sun enters Uttarayan from this day, so this day is also called 'Uttarayan'. Meaning it is also an astronomical event along with the festival.
On this day, the Earth is situated at a maximum distance from the Sun. After this the distance starts to decrease, meaning the days longer and the winter season gets shorter.
Click the link given below to watch a video of Makar Sankranti Utsav in Hindi
The religious significance of Makar Sankranti
It is believed that on this day Lord Bhaskar (the Sun god) visits his son Shani himself at his home. Because Shani Dev is the lord of Capricorn (Makar), this day is known as Makar Sankranti.
In the Mahabharata period, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen the Makar Sankranti to give up his body, it is believed that the soul who renounced at the time of Uttarayan gets rid of the cycle of 'rebirth'.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, Gangaji followed Bhagirath and crossing Kapil Muni's ashram met in the ocean.
Mata Yashoda kept the fast for the birth of Krishna when the sun god was entering the Uttarayan period and that day was the day of Makar Sankranti. From the same day, the practice of observing the fast of Makar Sankranti also started.
In scriptures, Uttarayan is called the day of the gods and Dakshinayan is the night of the gods.
There is also a scientific reason behind celebrating this festival.
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, there is a tradition of making and eating dishes of sesame and jaggery everywhere. In the winter season when the body needs heat, the jaggery and sesame effects are hot, so they bring the required heat to the body. On this day, anyone who donates sesame and jaggery gets heaven.
Kite flying is also done at this festival which is very beneficial for health. There is a good source of Vitamin D in the morning sun which helps in fighting many diseases caused by the cold winds. Lord 'Ram' had started the practice of flying kites.
It is considered by different customs in India, hence it is known by different names.
Apart from India, it is also celebrated in Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.
Let's know how Makar Sankranti is celebrated in every corner of the country
Click the link given below to watch a video of Makar Sankranti Utsav in Hindi
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, this festival is celebrated as Pongal for four days. Bhogi-Pongal on the first day, Surya-Pongal on the second day, Mattoo-Pongal or Kenu-Pongal on the third day and Kanya-Pongal on the fourth and last day.
On the first day, garbage is collected and lit,
on the second day Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and on the third day, animal wealth is worshiped.
Kheer is made in an earthen pot in the open courtyard on the fourth day, which is called Pongal. Then the Sun God is worshiped.
On this day, the daughter and the son in law (Jamai Raja) are especially welcomed.
Maharashtra and Goa
Makar Sankranti celebrations in Maharashtra last for three days. On the first day called Bhogi, people worship the Sun God and fly kites.
On the second day, married women apply turmeric and vermilion on each other's foreheads in 'Haldi-Kumkum'.
The last day is called Kinkrant which marks the day of the defeat of the demon Kinkarasura.
When giving sesame jaggery to each other on this day, people say, "til gud giya aani gor gor bola" that is, eat sesame jaggery and say, sweet-sweet.
Sindhi community
The Sindhi community celebrate this festival for 2 days, on the first day means on the 13th, it is called 'Lal Loi', on this day, fire is lit in the open space and the family and the people in the neighborhood revolve the fire and the 'Rewari' and 'coconut' offered in it.
The next day is called "Tirumuri" on the 14th, on this day sweet made of sesame seeds and jaggery, which is also called Chiki (Laee) parents send their married daughters and eat themselves.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, this festival lasts for two days. The first day is called 'Uttarayan' on January 14, the next day is called ‘Basi Uttarayan’.
The festival of Pantagotsav is also organized on the day of Makar Sankranti in Gujarat, in which foreigners also participate. The phrase 'Kai Po Chhe' is said by the people when one kite cuts the thread of another.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Makar Sankranti is called as Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
In Allahabad, Magh Mela starts from the day of Makar Sankranti and the first bath of Magh Mela is done on Makar Sankranti. On this special day, people along with donating khichdi must also consume it.
Punjab
In Punjab, on the eve of Makar Sankranti, people light a fire in an open place and the family and the people in the neighborhood make a round of fire and offer it the roasted Makki and Rewari. Bhangra is also done around the fire, it is called Lohri.
This day is very special for new brides and newborns.
West Bengal
The Ganges joins the Bay of Bengal at its end. People bathe in this Sangam and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Ganga. It is said that "all Tirath many times, Ganges Sagar once." This is the reason why there is a huge crowd in the Ganges Sagar on this day.
Rajasthan
The festival of Makar Sankranti in Rajasthan has special significance for Suhagan women. On this day, all the Suhagan women receive their blessings by giving their mother-in-law gifts.
It is also customary for women to donate 14 fortune things to 14 Brahmins.
Karnataka
In Karnataka, it is seen as a harvest festival. There, people embellish the bulls and cows on the day of Makar Sankranti and take out Shobha Yatra. Also, wearing new clothes themselves exchange each other sugar cane, dry coconut, and roasted gram.
Uttarakhand (Kumaon)
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Kumaon, Uttarakhand. It is also called ‘Ghughuti’ or ‘Kale Kawa’. The birds start returning to the mountain when the weather changes. Sweet pakoras are made on this day. Its necklace is made and served to the crows.
People bathe the Ganges and donate sweets of sesame to the Brahmins.
Odisha
People of Odisha make Makar Chaula i.e. half-cooked rice, bananas, coconut, jaggery, sesame, rasgulla sweets on this day, there is a lot of worship in the Sun Temple of 'Konark'. On this day, fairs are also organized at many places.
Click the link given below to watch a video of Makar Sankranti Utsav in Hindi
Let's know how other countries besides India celebrate Makar Sankranti
Nepal
Makar Sankranti in Nepal is called 'Maghe Sankranti', 'Maghi Sankranti' or 'Khichdi Sankranti', this day is a public holiday in Nepal. This festival is the major festival of the Tharu community, people of Nepal also take bath in pilgrimage and do charity.
Among the pilgrimage sites, Rurudham (Devghat), Triveni Mela is the most famous, Nepal businessmen also donate rosewood on this day.
Thailand
In Thailand, this festival is known as 'Songkran'. The culture here is different from India. Where every king in Thailand had his own special kite which is flown in the winter season in the hope of peace and prosperity by the monk or priest of country.
Myanmar
Makar Sankranti is also celebrated in Myanmar, where this festival is celebrated in the name of 'Thingyan', this festival lasts for 3 or 4 days, this festival is celebrated in the joy of new year.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, this festival is known as 'Ujhwar Tirunal' people of Tamil Nadu live here, so in Sri Lanka, this festival is also called Pongal.
Cambodia
In Cambodia, Makar Sankranti is known by the name of 'Moha Songkran', here it is a glimpse of Indian culture, people here celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm in the joy of new year.
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