Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival. Makar Sankranti is the day on which the journey of the Sun from Dakshinayanam to Uttarayana begins. Uttarayana starts at the beginning of the month Makara. Therefore, Makara Sankranti is celebrated all over India on January 14th or 15th.
Many temples, such as the famous Sabarimala Sri Ayyappaswamy Temple, celebrate Makar Sankranti on a grand scale. It is celebrated on January 14th every year. Most Hindu festivals are based on the lunar calendar, which is determined by changes in the position of the moon, but in contrast, Makarasankranti is based on the solar calendar. The word Sankranti means movement. Therefore, the festival is precisely based on the movement of the Sun in the Capricorn zodiac.
On the day of the Makar Sankranti festival, day and night are equal and it is one of the oldest festivals. This festival marks the beginning of spring or the Indian summer. After this day, the sun stays a little longer than the previous days, and the day is longer than the night.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Mag Bihu in Assam, Bhogal Bihu, Lohri festival in Punjab, and Haryana, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh, and Til Sankranti in Bihar. The states of Delhi and Haryana consider Sankranti as the main festival of the year. On this day ghee, halwa and kheer are cooked separately. The brothers visit the sister's house with new clothes for their sister and husband. This is called 'Siddha'. Women used to give presents to their daughters-in-law on this day and these rituals are known as 'manana'.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated in Punjab as Maghi. Bathing in a river early in the morning on this day is important for the devotees. Hindus light lamps with sesame oil. It is believed that it gives abundance and removes all sins. Celebrations are held at Sri Mukhsar Sahib on Maghi Day, which commemorates a historic event in Sikh history. People dance the famous 'Bhangra' which is a part of Punjabi culture. Then they eat a specially prepared delicious meal together. Makara Sankranti is a day when the season shifts to warmer temperatures and daylight increases.
'Makarasankranti' or 'Sankranti' in the Rajasthani language is one of the important festivals of the place. Special Rajasthani dishes and desserts like Fini, Til-Pati, Gajak, Kheer, Gewar, Pakodi, Pua, and Til-Laddu are prepared on this day. It is a custom for women in this area to give any kind of goods to thirteen married women. On that day, the husband invites their relatives to his house for a feast. People give many small gifts on this special day to the Brahmins or the poor. As part of the celebrations, kite flying competitions are traditionally held in Rajasthan.
During the month of Magha (January-February), the people of Assam consider Makara Sankranti is a festival that marks the harvest season. The festival is also known as Bhogali Bihu and Mag Bihu as a harvest festival. The celebration lasts for about a week. Young people set up huts made of bamboo, leaves, and wood, known as meji. In it, they eat the food prepared for the feast and burn these huts the next morning.
Makara Sankranti is also known as Magha Saji in the Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh. Saji is the Pahari word of Sankranti which is the beginning of the new month. So this day marks the beginning of the month of Magha. Migratory birds are said to be returning to the hills from this day, which marks the change of season. On that day, people get up early in the morning and ritually bathe in streams or rivers. During the day, people visit their neighbors, eat, and perform charitable activities at temples.
In Kerala, the Makaravilakku is held on Sabarimala on the day of Makara Sankranti. On the day of Makarasankranti, Makara Jyoti appears at Ponnambalam with the worship of Lord Ayyappan on the idol. Capricorn star rises in the sky. It is said that lighting the evening light in the houses at this time and calling for refuge will bring prosperity. Special poojas worship and celebrations are held at the Ayyappa temples.
Makarasankranti and religion
According to the Mahabharatha, Bhishmacharya did not sacrifice his life in Dakshinayanam but waited for the sun to enter Uttarayana. It is believed that Bhishma Peethamahan left his body on the day of Makar Sankranti when the sun entered Uttarayana. Because the soul attains salvation by dying at Uttarayana.
Harvest Festival
Pongal is considered a harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. The most important of these is the beginning of Makarasankranti day in Thaipongal. It is also a time of thanksgiving for the good weather given by Lord Aditya (Sun), who gave the harvest of the season in a good way.
There is another story about Makarasankranti. One of them is said to be the day when Yashoda's mother fasted to have Lord Krishna as her son. Another is that the story of Gangavatra is associated with Makarasankranti. It is said that Bhagiratha followed the sage and met the Ganges on the day of Makara Sankranti. Devotees bathe in the Ganges on the day of Makarasankranti which is considered sacred.
Festival of Blessings
From the day of Makar Sankranti onwards, the daytime increases as a result of the sun entering Uttarayana. Married women pray to the sun god and perform poojas for the longevity of their husbands. It is believed that this brings the blessings of the Sun God and gives longevity to her husband. Visit our website https//astroo.live/ for more festival blogs.