Makar Sankranti: Date, Traditions, History & Regional Celebrations

Makar Sankranti, one of the most popular festivals, celebrates the sun바카라™s movement into Capricorn (Makar Rashi), symbolizing the end of winter and the beginning of longer, warmer days. This festival is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm across India with diverse customs, including kite flying, taking holy dips in rivers, and preparing traditional sweets made of sesame and jaggery. Makar Sankranti is a festival steeped in cultural, spiritual, and agricultural significance. This article will focus on the details of the Makar Sankranti festival.

Makar Sankranti List

• January 13, 2025: Lohri.

• January 14, 2025: Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana, Magh Bihu, Pedda Panduga, and Pongal.

• January 15, 2025: Mattu Pongal, Kanuma Panduga.

• January 16, 2025: Kaanum Pongal, Mukkanuma.

Sankranti observance in different parts of India

Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival celebrated across India, is known by various names and observed with diverse rituals in different states. Punjab celebrates it as Lohri with bonfires and folk songs; Sikh people gather around the bonfire and toss popcorn in the fire. They dance, share the story of Dulla Bhati, and eat til ke laddoo, gajaks, revdi, popcorn, and other Punjabi delicacies. Meanwhile, in Assam, it's Magh Bihu, which is marked by feasts and the burning of makeshift huts. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it's celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Pedda Panduga with elaborate rituals and feasting. In Tamil Nadu, it's Pongal, a four-day festival with unique rituals like cooking rice in pots and offering prayers to the Sun god. Kite flying is a common practice in Gujarat, where the festival is known as Uttarayan. Gujarati people are enthusiastically involved in the kite-flying competition. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, kite flying and community feasts are central to the celebrations. Special dishes like sesame laddoos and sugarcane-based sweets are popular. These regional variations reflect India's rich cultural tapestry.

History of Makar Sankranti festival

Makar Sankranti, one of India's most auspicious festivals, marks the Sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara) from Sagittarius (Dhanu). This celestial shift signifies the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days, marking a period of increased positivity and prosperity. Makar Sankranti is rooted in ancient Indian traditions and has been celebrated for thousands of years. Its origins can be traced back to Vedic times, with references in the scriptures, including the Mahabharata and the Puranas.

In Hinduism, it is believed that those who die during the auspicious season of Uttarayan are liberated from the cycle of birth and death. According to mythology, Bhishma Pitamah was terminally wounded during the great battle of Kurukshetra, and thanks to his father's gift, he was able to choose the time of his death and postpone his final moments on Earth by a few days so that he may die during the Uttarayan period. He chose to leave his mortal body on this day, attaining moksha (liberation). According to legends, on this day, the divinity Sankranti executed the evil Sankarasur. The following day is called Kairdin or Kinkrant because the Devi killed a devil named Kinkarasur.

The harvest festival is a time of joy, celebration, and abundance among farming communities as they receive the rewards of their hard labour. Makar Sankranti offers a lot of sweetness in the life of people. People fly colourful kites, decorate their homes, eat khichdi and dahi chooda, and exchange sweets like til ke laddoo (sesame seeds). Bonfires are lit to symbolize the burning of negativity, and many people take a holy dip in rivers. In many parts of India, people take an oil bath, worship the lord Sun, and then have a meal. Also, the day is meant for charity and performing good deeds.

Significance of Makar Sankranti

The festival Makar Sankranti holds a significant place in the hearts of Sikh people. It is a time to thank the bountiful harvest and the sun god. It is primarily a harvest festival, marking the end of the winter crop season and the onset of spring. Farmers express gratitude to nature and celebrate the fruits of their labor. The festival heralds the start of the Rabi crop season and is associated with hope and prosperity for the coming year. 

Astrologically, Makar Sankranti represents the Sun바카라™s northward journey (Uttarayan) in the celestial sphere, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. This period is considered highly auspicious for undertaking new endeavours, performing religious rituals, and seeking blessings for personal and professional growth. During Makar Sankranti, the Sun begins its trip to the north; therefore, people along the Ganga, Krishna, Godavari, and Yamuna Rivers visit sacred sites and chant mantras.

Bathing in holy rivers, a common practice during the festival is believed to cleanse one바카라™s sins and help attain salvation. Charitable acts, such as donating food, clothes, and money, are emphasized, reinforcing the values of selflessness and compassion.

Conclusion

Makar Sankranti is much more than a festival; it celebrates life, nature, and spirituality. It bridges India's cultural and regional diversity, uniting people through shared traditions and values. As families come together to fly kites, prepare festive delicacies, and offer prayers, Makar Sankranti reminds us of the eternal cycle of seasons and the importance of gratitude, renewal, and hope in our lives.

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