Makar Sankranti

Why and How is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

Makar Sankranti is one of the most promising days for the Hindus and is distinguished in almost all parts of India in countless cultural forms with immense devotion, gaiety, and fervor. It is the main festival of Hindus and is dedicated to Lord Sun. Makar (Capricorn) is a Hindu zodiac mark, and Sankranti (Sat + Kranti) indicates good change or auspicious movement. According to the Hindu panchang, Makar Sankranti befalls when the sun turns its path northwards from Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) to enter the Makar Rashi (Capricorn) month Poush. Makar Sankranti is considered a highly propitious day, and it is accepted any sacred ritual, or task can be started or performed on this day, and it will be fruitful. It marks the beginning of the harvesting season and the end of the chilly winter season. This is the start of the month of Magh. To repay for the distinction that happens due to the sun's revolution every 80 years, Sankranti's day is deferred by one day. Makar Sankranti generally falls on January 14th or 15th. From the Makar Sankranti festive day, the sun enters its northward or Uttarayan journey. Hence this festivity is also identified as Uttarayan. It is also celebrated as Pongal, Lohri, and Bhogali Bihu in every part of India, as follows:

Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, this festival is named "Pedda Panduga," signifying "big festival." It is celebrated for 4 days, known as Bhogi Panduga, Sankranti, and Kanuma. On Bhogi Panduga, people get up early and build a bonfire using old broomsticks, mats, paper, and firewood, signifying the end of evil. The yards are cleaned, and wonderful rangoli designs are drawn and brightened with a marigold blossom stuck on cow dung balls. Everybody at home wears new clothes. The following day is Sankranti, and the sweet dish "Sakkare Pongal," which is Jaggery rice is prepared and offered to the gods. Different dishes like Puliharam/Puliyogare, Ariselu, Kajjikayalu, Laddoo, Jantikalu, and so forth are prepared. At night the youngsters in the house will be made to sit, and a mixture of Puffed Rice, Berries, Sugar Candy, Coins are mixed and poured over their head, and aarti is performed. The neighbors are welcome to take part in this ritual. This is done to drive away from the evil eye. The third day is Kanuma wherein the bullocks are decorated and worshipped and taken in a procession. The fourth and last day is Mukanuma, where people socialize and go out on picnics.

Assam
In Assam, the festival is called Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu; Bhogali implies devouring. It is celebrated amazingly in Assam for two days and is dedicated to the fire god. The first day is known as Uruka. On this day, youths build 'Mejias' or 'Bhelaghars' (bonfires) using bamboo and wood pieces in farmland or open spaces. People sing Bihu tunes and dance Bihu move around it. The following day, Magh Bihu people throw rice cakes and betel nuts into the 'Meji.' On this day, people visit family members and offer Rice flakes and Sweet Rice cakes.

Bihar
Til Sankranti is in Bihar, where people prepare Laddoos, and roasted grains are eaten with Jaggery/Molasses. Roasted Til/Sesame Seeds are distributed among friends. A fair at Mandar hill is held in honor of the mountain. Referenced in the ancient stories like the king of snake Sheshnag as rope, the mountain was utilized by the gods and goddesses to churn the sea. This fair attracts many people, and they take a bath in the Papaharini lake to wash away their sins.

Gujarat and Rajasthan

The Gujaratis celebrate Makar Sankranti as Uttarayan for two days by flying kites and preparing dishes like Tal Sankadi/Sesame Seeds bar, Jalebi, Undhiya Groundnut Chikki/Peanuts bar. The sky is speckled with kites of all colors and shapes, and people enjoy cutting others' kites. "Kai Po Che" rings through the air signifying, "I cut the kite" whenever a kite is cut. "Uttarayan," as in different places, is considered auspicious, and on this day, pandits/researchers offer scholarships to students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy. The following day of Sankranti is known as Vaasi Uttarayan, which signifies the beginning of a good year.

Karnataka
In Karnataka, this celebration is known as Makara Sankranti and is celebrated for 2 days. The first day is Bhogi, and on this day, people take an oil head bath, and the delicious Huggi and Gojju are prepared. This is a rice dish prepared using Rice and split Green Gram with spices. In North Karnataka, Sajji/Bhajra Roti is ready to on Bhogi. On the following day, a special pooja is offered to the gods. A mixture of "Yellu" is prepared using Sesame Seeds, Jaggery, Groundnuts, Fried Gram, and Coconut and provided to the gods and Sakkare Achchu/Sugar dolls, Sugarcane, Banana, Elachihannu/Jujube, Kusuri Kalu/Sesame Seeds coated with sugar. A Sakkare Pongal or Sweet rice is cooked and relished by one and all. At night people wear new clothes and distribute Yellu, Sakkare Achchu, Sugarcane pieces, Banana, Elachihannu to friends, neighbors, and family members.

On the same evening, kids aged 5 and below in the house are dressed up in ornaments made of Kusuri Kalu and are made to sit on a mat, and a mixture of Puffed Rice, Berries, Chocolates, Silver/Gold things, Sugar Candy, Coins are mixed and poured over their head to their joy. This ritual is known as "Kari Yeriyodu," and aarti is performed. The neighbors are welcome to participate in this ritual. This ritual is performed to drive away from the evil eye. In the evening, the farmers decorate their cows and bullocks and worship them. They take them out on a procession and make them hop over the fire. 

In North Karnataka, people exchange Sesame seeds coated with sugar and greet each other with "Ellu Bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu," which means eating sesame seeds jaggery/molasses and talk sweetly.

Kerala
In Kerala, this celebration is known as Makara Sankranthi. The shrine of Sabarimala with the presiding deity of Ayyappa is thronged by a large number of travellers on this day to witness the Makara Jyothi/Celestial light shine on the hills.

Madhya Pradesh
In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh, the festival is known as "Sukarat" or "Sakarat" and is celebrated with incredible glory and happiness by a lot of desserts specially made of Til and Gud.

Maharashtra
Til gul is one of the main food items that mark the festivities during Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra. These little sweet balls made from sesame seeds and jaggery are exchanged between friends and family members on the auspicious event. This exchange is often accompanied by saying out the phrase "til gul ghya, god god bola" which roughly translates to "have til gul, speak sweetly". Another delicacy prepared in Maharashtra during Makar Sankranti is Puran Poli.

Makar Sankranti celebrations in Maharashtra usually last three days. People clean their homes well in advance and on the day of Sankranti, they wear ethnic clothes to bring in the festivities. On the first day called bhogi; Indian winter vegetables such as carrots, fresh green chana (harbhara), brinjals, beans are used to make ‘bhogichi bhaji’, a mixed vegetable curry on bhogi day, this mixed vegetable stew is also known as 'Lekurvali'. It is served with bajra bhakri which helps to keep the body warm in winter. People pay their respects to the Sun and step out to fly kites. The second day is for married women to carry out the rituals of haldi-kumkum which involves applying turmeric and vermillion on each other's foreheads. The last day is called Kinkrant which marks the day of the defeat of the demon Kinkarasur. Children below 5 years are dressed with jewelry made with Sesame Seeds coated with sugar and aarti is performed.

Punjab and Haryana
This festival is called Lohri and it is one of the significant celebrations of Punjab. It is with great ceremony and show. People socialize with friends and family members, organize get together, and build a campfire. People worship the god and go around the fire and distribute offerings. The feast includes Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag. Until/Sesame seeds bar, Gazak/Sesame seeds bar, Gur/Jaggery, Moongphali/Peanuts, Phuliya, and Popcorn are offered to god and distributed.

Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, this festival is called "Pongal" signifying "boiling over" and is one of the significant festivals of the state. It is celebrated for 4 days known as Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanum Pongal. Houses are cleaned and enormous kolam/rangoli designs are drawn in front of the house, and new clothes are bought. On the second day i.e., Surya Pongal day a sweet called "Sakkare Pongal" is prepared using Milk, Rice, and Split Green Gram. The Milk is made to boil and spill all over the vessel. People meet family members and friends and exchange desserts and savories. On Mattu Pongal day the cows are worshipped and decorated. On the last day i.e, Kanum Pongal people go out on picnics with loved ones.

Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, Sankranti is called "Kicheri". Taking a dip on this day at Prayag in Allahabad where the holy rivers Ganga, Jamuna, and Saraswati meet and flow together is considered very auspicious. A huge number of people assemble on this day. Every 12 years once, the Kumbh Mela is held for a month during "Uttarayana". The auspicious bath likewise happens in Haridwar, Garh Mukteshwar and Rishikesh.

West Bengal

West Bengal marks Makar Sankranti by participating in the Gangasagar Mela/fair held on this day on the river Hooghly banks in Kolkata. The Mela attracts people from all over India to take a dip in the river. This is the confluence of the river Ganga and the Arabian ocean, and this is the day that river Ganga is believed to have merged with the sea after liberating 60,000 ancestors of King Bhagirath.

It is in Eastern India, but the festival is also celebrated in neighboring eastern countries such as Myanmar, Thailand.

There are different cultures in different states of India that Sankranti brings joy to all states. It brings the whole of India together. Farmers who grow sugar cane in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab celebrate Sugar Cane's harvest.

Though Sankranti has various names, it is celebrated with great joy and high spirits in each and every part of India.

Happy Makar Sankranti, Happy Pongal, Happy Lohri, Happy Bhogali Bihu!!