Makar Sankranti: Celebrating Tradition and Unity Across India

Makar Sankranti: Celebrating Tradition and Unity Across India

Makar Sankranti, often referred to simply as Sankranti, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated across India. It marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar), signifying the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated annually on January 14th or 15th, depending on the solar calendar. It holds cultural and religious importance, marking the shift in seasons and the onset of the harvest period. 

Devotees take holy dips in sacred rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, and Godavari, believing that it purifies the soul and washes away past sins.

Traditional Foods and Celebrations Across India A variety of dishes are prepared during Makar Sankranti using freshly harvested crops. These include:

  • Tilgul (Sesame and Jaggery Sweets): Made by combining roasted sesame seeds and jaggery, this sweet treat symbolizes warmth and prosperity during winter.

  • Pongal: A South Indian delicacy made from newly harvested rice, moong dal, and jaggery, representing abundance and gratitude.

  • Khichdi: A wholesome dish made from rice, lentils, and spices, often consumed as a simple, nutritious meal during the festival.

  • Puran Poli: A Maharashtrian sweet flatbread stuffed with a mixture of jaggery and lentils, signifying the joy of harvest and festivity.

These dishes symbolize health, sweetness, and warmth during the winter season, emphasizing the harvest's importance in the celebrations.

Sankranti is celebrated differently across different part of India:

  • In Maharashtra, people exchange tilgul sweets and say, "Tilgul ghya, god god bola" (Eat tilgul and speak sweetly), promoting harmony and positive communication.
  • Tamil Nadu celebrates it as Pongal, named after the special dish prepared for the occasion, signifying the abundance of the harvest.

  • In Punjab, it is known as Lohri, marked by bonfires, folk songs, and dances, bringing communities together for joyous celebrations. A very popular dish relished on this day here is makki ki roti/ mirchi parantha and sarson ka saag. 

  • Gujarat and Rajasthan are famous for elaborate kite flying events, filling the skies with colorful kites as a symbol of joy and prosperity.

Festival Traditions and Significance Makar Sankranti traditions include offering prayers to the Sun God, flying kites, visiting temples, and donating clothes and food.

Sharing sweets, exchanging positive wishes, and celebrating with family gatherings further emphasize the festive spirit!

As a festival based on the solar calendar, Makar Sankranti emphasizes gratitude, prosperity, and new beginnings. Its core themes of harvest, gratitude, and seasonal change unite people across regions, making it one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India.

 

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