Things You Should Know About Festival of Makar Sankranti

Makara Sankranti Hindu festival is one of the most auspicious festival and is celebrated in almost all parts of India with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. People take a dip bath in scared rivers,offer pray to the Sun God,pay respect to Saraswati and distributes food items. Makara Sankranti is Major Harvest Festivals also known as Pongal, Uttarayana, Lohri, Poush Parbon and Bhogali Bihu.

10 Reasons to Celebrate Makar Sankranti in India

Significance

Importance of the day is signified in the epics Mahabharata and holds a historical and religious significance,festival of Sun God regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, also beginning of warmer and longer days.

Harvest Festival

It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date of 14th January every year and also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Hindu culture and marks of termination of Winter season and beginning of a new harvest season.

Celebration

Celebration of Makara Sankranti festival is known as Magh Bihu In Assam,Uttarayan in Gujarat,Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Lohri in Punjab. The day is known by various names and a variety of traditions in different states.

Sankranti Recipes

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different parts of India with different styles,traditions and rituals. Special food items, dishes and sweets are prepared on the occasion like Kalagaya kura, Multicolored sugar halwa and most popular Til Ke Laddu-sesame seeds.

Kite Flying

Kite flying is one of the most popular sports and festival in India and Uttarayan is regarded as one of the biggest festival and also the International Kite Festival in Gujarat. The kite festival being held in important cities of Gujarat each year.

Holy Dip

The day of Makar Sankranti is the first of the big and holy bathing days of Hindu’s, takes place at sacred places for holy bathing such as Allahabad and Varanasi, Haridwar,Ujjain,Nashik and Sagar Island.

Fairs

Melas or fairs are held around the country on Makara Sankranti, one of the most famous being the Kumbha Mela,the Gangasagar Mela and Makara Mela in Odisha. The Gangasagar or sagar island is situated at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and a famous Hindu pilgrim place.