- Meaning of Makar – Sankranti
- Date of Celebration
- Significance of Makar Sankranti
- Various names of Makar Sankranti
- Celebration in Gujarat & Rajasthan
- Celebration in Tamil NaDu
- Celebration in Uttar Pradesh
- Celebration in Jharkhand & Bihar
- Celebration in Maharashtra
- Reason behind celebration of Makar Sankranti
- Interesting fact
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Makar Sankranti, the first festival of the new year. The day is marked as an end of the midwinter in our Indian history so far. Among all the festivals from all around the world, Makar Sankranti is considered as one of the essential festivals among the Hindus. The festival holds great importance in everyone’s life. The only aim of this festival id to spread positivity, peace and prosperity. It’s importance not only limited to religious significance.
Meaning of Makar – Sankranti –
The actual meaning behind the word ‘a transition of the sun’ is Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition. It is also considered as one of the most scared occasion according to the Hindus.
Date of the celebration –
Every year of 14th or 15th January, the festival is celebrated with great joy and happiness. It’s a three-day celebration.
Makar Sankranti Significance –
Makar Sankranti is observed and celebrated in different – different state in different manner. The festival is mark as the beginning of the harvest season where new crops are worshiped. During this time of the year, all the worshippers usually take a bath early morning in the sacred rivers which are the ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and krishna on the day of Makar Sankranti. All these believers do activities such as offering Naivedhya to lord surya, offering charity, performing shraddha and breaking fast which should be done during the time of Punya Kaal.
Just like all other festivals be it Diwali, Holi in a same way Makar Sankranti is also celebrated mainly by many Hindu community and in many states by different name and tradition.
Various Name of Makar Sankranti in India:
This occasion is celebrated in different parts of India with distinct name such as:
• In Tamil Nadu – Thai Pongal
• In Gujarat – Uttarayan
• In Punjab – Lohri
• In Bengal – Poush Songkranti
• In Karnataka- Suggi Habba
• In Punjab – Lohri (Next day of Makar Sankranti)
• In Bengal – Poush Songkranti
• In Karnataka – Suggi Habba
• In Odisha – Makara Chaula
• In Maharashtra and Haryana – Maghi Sankrant
• In Assam – Magh
• In Kashmir – Shishur Saenkraat
• In UP and Bihar – Khichdi
Celebration in Gujarat and Rajasthan –
Among all the places where Makar Sankranti is celebrated, Jaipur and Gujarat are always considered as the host of this festival. In Gujarat the celebration is popularly known by the name of ‘Uttarayan’. The word Uttarayan means the flying of kites. On the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, the sky automatically changes it’s colour as million Gujaratis fly there colourful kites from their balcony and Terrance. All the colours of Gujarat come alive on this day. It is a two-day festival which first opens up with the colourful kites and manjhi.
Even the people of Rajasthan make various sweets such as the gajak til patti, puwa and peeni these are some of the most famous sweet dishes which one must try on the day of Makar Sankranti, plus the pleasant whether of Jaipur, Rajasthan always add a charm to this celebration. Also, this kite flying is a prominent feature in Rajasthan as well.
Celebration In Tamil Nadu –
The occasion in Tamil Nadu is also known by the name of ‘Pongal’. Tamil Nadu is considered as the most auspicious day with a deep culture. People of Tamil Nadu is celebrate this festival for four basic days by making a variety of sweets made of rice, milk, jaggery and some other ingredients.
The event last for four main daysDay 1 – celebrated as Bhogi Pandigai.
Day 2 – celebrated Thai Pongal
Day 3 – Maattu Pongal
Day 4 – Kaanum Pongal.
Tamil madu’s unique peculiar rangoli design bring back the south India to life. On this day people use to clean there home, they all put mango leaves put on doors and animal pooja are also performed.
Celebration In Uttar Pradesh –
In Uttar Pradesh the festival is known by the name of ‘Kicheri’ which also include3s the bathing rituals. There are overall about 2 million people flock to places such as Allahabad, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. After fasting there they take the strong bath in the morning and after that they eat sweets such as til ke ladoo, gud ke ladooo.
Celebration In Jharkhand and Bihar –
In Jharkhand and Bihar, the occasion is known by the name of Khichdi parv. It is celebrated by taking holy dips in the rivers early in the morning, flying colourful kites, making bonfire, eating chokha, which is a roasted vegetable with achaar, papad and ghee.
Celebration In Maharashtra –
In Maharashtra the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 10 th or either on 14th January. People of Pune and as well Ratnagiri district they all celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti on 10th January.
This Maharashtrian occasion of Makar Sankranti and Ratha Saptami both together bring the new level of happiness in people. The only difference between these two festivals are that asratha Saptami is celebrated only in Maharashtra but makar Sankranti is celebrated in Nepal, Bangladesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and many other states as well.
Reason behind the Celebration of Makar Sankranti?
This festival is celebrated and actually dedicated to ‘lord surya’. The day is considered as asolar day on the Hindu calendar. On this day, the sun basically enters into the zodiac sign that is Capricorn which marks as the end of the winter season and start a beginning of the longer day. The beginning of the new month is known as ‘Magh’. It is like a starting of a new beginning.
Interesting Fact about the Festival –
If Makar Sankranti falls on Tuesday so the festival is called as ‘Angarki Chaturthi’.
Conclusion:
Well, Makar Sankranti is a kind of an occasion which brings a great significance of joy and happiness to the family who rely on agriculture mainly.
Frequently Asked Question
- What is the main dish of Makar Sankranti? – Khichdi is one of the important dishes of Makar Sankranti.
- Who started Makar Sankranti? – Sage Vishvamitra.
- Why is it called Sankranti? – Sankranti means transmigration of the Sun from one zodiac to another in Indian
astronomy. - Which color is best for Makar Sankranti? – color black
- Which state is famous for Makar Sankranti? – Punjab. Associated with the harvest of winter crops, Makar Sankranti, called Lohri in
Punjab.
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