Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India in different forms on the 14th January of every year with great enthusiasm and fervor but this year it is being celebrated somewhere on 14^th & somewhere on 15^thJanuary. It marks the new beginning of joy, enlightenment, happiness, peace and prosperity after a sorrowful period marked by winter darkness, ignorance and other forms of negativism. It is also celebrated as the major harvesting festival all across the India.

Specially in saran region of Bihar (Gopalganj,Siwan & chapra) & some districts of U.P, It is known as KHICHADI PARWA. At this day everyone donate money & grain to Brahmins & Invite them to take the taste of DAHI & CHUDA with sweet of teel, chawal, chuda and others.

This day according to the lunar calendar, the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or in Sanskrit calendar as it is called, from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana. In the month of “Poush” or in mid-January this point marks the beginning of new harvesting season which sets the point for the arrival of more auspicious and sacred days like the end of winter season and the arrival of the spring season where days are much warmer, longer and better for harvesting the new fresh crops. The day also marks the end to the northeast monsoon in South India.

There are several legendary and mythical stories that signify the origin of this day. According to the ancient Puranas, this day marks the entry of the Surya (Sun) into the house of his son Shani (Saturn) and it remains there for a month symbolizing the relationship between father and son. Also, the Puranas say that this day stands for the victory of positivity or faith against the negativity, fear and terror because on this day Lord Vishnu slayed the Asuras (Demons) and buried their heads under the Mandara Parvata.

Another very interesting story is that of Maharaja Bhagiratha, who performed the great penance and underwent pain to bring Maa Ganga down to the earth from heavens and seek redemption for the 60,000 dead sons of Maharaj Sagar. It also believed that the Bhishma from the Mahabharata, chose Makar Sankranti as the day to relieve his soul.

On this auspicious day millions of people take a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga at Patna, Allahabad, Haridwar and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, the Ganga Sagar (the point at which river Ganges and the bay of Bengal meets) and the river Prayag whereby they pray to the Sun God (Surya). Also many boys and girls take dip in the holy river to pray for a good mate by the grace of god.

In southern India it is celebrated as Pongal. In the state of Gujarat, it is celebrated by flying several thousands of colorful kites.