Makar Sankranti, also known as Makara Sankranti, is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in India and Nepal. It marks the beginning of the harvest season and is typically celebrated in January. The festival is celebrated in honor of the god Surya and marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn).
The festival is celebrated in different ways across India, but it typically involves flying kites, taking dips in holy rivers, and sharing sweets with friends and family. In some regions, such as Gujarat and Maharashtra, it is also traditional to make and eat til-gull (a sweet made from sesame seeds and jaggery) as a symbol of the sweet new year.
One of the most significant rituals associated with Makar Sankranti is taking a dip in holy rivers such as the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Cauvery. It is believed that taking a dip in these rivers on Makar Sankranti will wash away one's sins and bring good luck in the new year.
Makar Sankranti is also a major festival for farmers, as it marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest season. In many parts of India, farmers offer the first grains of harvest to the gods as a sign of gratitude and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
In some regions of India, Makar Sankranti is also associated with the god Shiva. According to legend, Shiva drank poison on this day to save the world, and his throat turned blue as a result. This is why Makar Sankranti is also known as "Shiva Ratri" or "Night of Shiva" in some parts of India.
In Nepal, Makar Sankranti is known as Maghi and marks the end of the month of Poush (December/January) and the beginning of Magh (January/February). It is celebrated by taking dips in holy rivers, flying kites, and eating sweet delicacies.
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal, it is a four-day long festival, the first day is called Bhogi, the second day is Sankranti, the third day is Kanuma and the fourth-day Mukkanuma. On the Bhogi festival people discard old things and bring new things and celebrate them by lighting a bonfire, On the Sankranti day people take bath early in the morning, perform puja and offer prayers to the Sun God and the cows. They also prepare a sweet dish called Pongal and give it to the cows. The third day is Kanuma, people visit their relatives and friends, and the fourth-day Mukkanuma is celebrated as a day of rest.
In Assam, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu, it is a three-day long festival, which marks the end of the harvesting season and is celebrated with feasts, bonfires, and traditional games.
In West Bengal and Odisha, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Poush Parbon or Makar Sankranti. It is celebrated by preparing and offering traditional dishes to the gods and sharing them with friends and family.
In Kerala, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Makara Vilakku, it is a festival of lights and is celebrated by lighting lamps made of rice flour and coconut oil.
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