The festive day of Makar Sankranti is an auspicious occasion among the Hindus and has different cultural forms in the various parts of India.
Dedicated to Lord Surya, the day of Makar Sankranti marks the end of the winter solstice and the start of longer days as the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makara.
The history of Makar Sankranti is seeped with the ancient culture and traditions of India.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
The festival is mainly dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Surya, who has been mentioned in religious texts since Vedic period.
The spiritual and religious practises of taking a dip in the holy waters of the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers are believed to result in merit or absolution of past sins.
Celebration of Makar Sankranti in Different Parts of IndiaThe festival of Makara Sankranti is one of the few ancient Indian festivals that are observed according to the solar cycles, while most festivals are set by the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
Magh Bihu: Marked by feasts and bonfires, Magh Bihu is celebrated in the state of Assam and features traditional Assamese games like tekeli bhonga or pot breaking and buffalo fighting.
Khichdi: In Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi.
Uttarayan: In Gujarat, it is celebrated as Uttarayan, and the people fly kites during this time. The Hindu Sindhi community in western regions of India celebrate Makar Sankranti as Tirmoori.Poush Sankranti: Celebrated as Poush Sankranti in West Bengal, during which time the freshly harvested paddy and the date palm syrup in the form of khejurer gur or date palm jaggery is used in a preparation of variety of traditional Bengali sweets mainly pitha, which is made with rice flour and coconut.
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