Makar Sankranti is also known as Maghi. It is an annual Hindu festival devoted to Surya Dev (Lord Sun). The festival of Maghi or Sankrant observes a grand celebration across the country of India every year.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, people worship deity Surya because he is the source of life and perpetual energy. Also, this day has a great Astrological significance because, on this day, the Sun transits into the Makara (Capricorn) and the name of the festival derives its root from this fact.
Furthermore, the festival of Makar Sankranti marks the end of the winter solstice. Also, this festival brings the bliss of warm summer days after a long cold winter.
Makar Sankranti or Sankranti is one of the most olden Indian festivals. It is marked in the Hindu religion since the lunar cycle of the Lunisolar Hindu calendar. Therefore, Sankrant is an Indian festival that celebrates the solar cycle.
Moreover, One of the major viewable facts about this festival is it falls on almost the same date every year of the Gregorian calendar. In accordance with the gregorian calendar, Sankrant falls on the 14th or 15th January of every year.
Makar Sankranti derives its name from the astrological term transition of the sun from one constellation into another. Thus, On the day of Makara Sankranti, the Sun transit into Makara Rashi.
Also, In Assamese calendar and Bengali calendar, the festival of Sankranti is the beginning of a new year. However, in the calendar of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Nepal this day is the commencement of a new month.
The Sun is considered a divine deity in India and the festival of Makar Sankranti is dedicated to the devotion of Lord Sun.
In Hindu religion, the significance of Surya has its mentions in the Vedic text. Devotees worship Surya Dev every day in the form Gayatri Mantra and Surva Namaskar,
In addition, the Gayatri Mantra comes from the Hindu holy book Rigveda. Also, this festival marks the beginning of Uttarayan which is an auspicious Hindu Month.
The celebration of Makar Sankranti is one of the heritage of Indian culture. It is a festival that occurs in the oldest time of Hindu religion and Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day that observes grand festivity all across the country.
Furthermore, it has a significance of Hindu religion, human civilization, fervor, gaiety, and devotion. Along with this, the celebration of Makar Sankranti has countless forms in India.
Makar Sankranti is a festival to worship the greatest deity, Lord Sun. On this day, the winter solstice ends and it marks the commencement of warm summer days. In the Hindu calendar, it is also referred to a specific solar day. However, on this prosperous day, the divine deity Sun enters in the Makara Rashi.
It is the symbol of the beginning of Magh month of Hindu calendar. In addition, from the day of Makar Sankranti, Lord Sun commences its journey northward. In India, this is called the Uttarayan Journey.
The celebration of Makar Sankranti is an incomplete delicious foodstuff. Til Laddo, Gajjak, and Kheer are three major sweets for the day. However, in India people celebrate the festivalwith numerous dishes.
So, here are the best food suggestions to compliment the festivity of Makar Sankranti –
Sweets- Til-gul and jaggery laddoos, Til Laddoo, Gajjak, Gud Patti, Rabdi Kheer, Deshi Ghee, and Flour Halwa, Badam Halwa, and Gajar KaHalwa.
Drinks- Lassi, and Chaach.
Snacks- Paneer Tikka, Amritsari Chhole, and Kulche.
Meals- Khichadi, Sarso Ka Saag and Makke Ki Roti, Chhole Bhature, Daal Makhani, and Matar Pulao.
Makar Sankranti is a festival that has many names in all the different regions of India. However, it has a singular value in North India. Thus, In northern parts of India, people call Makara Sankranti and in some other parts, it is known as Maghi, Lohri, PeddaPandaga, Sukarat, Magh Bihu, and Pongal.
Also, the celebration of Sankranti observes a great celebration every year. So, here are some details about the grand celebration-
People of North India celebrate the Sankranti festival with great zeal. On this day, a person may see hundreds of kites flying in the clear blue sky to make it colorful on the day of Makar Sankranti.
Here, this festival is also known as “Khichadi” because on this day people from Uttar Pradesh take dips in the holy river Ganga and make Khichadi. They put a fine amount of rice & daal with a certain amount of salt, turmeric and one potato in a plate.
Further, post taking bath each family member gets his own plate and does the process and softly mixes the items of the plate.
Later, it is given to the Sadhu or beggars. In addition, this auspicious day has a significant mark in the holy month of Magh Mela of Allahabad/Prayagraj.
In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is one of the most awaited festivals. On this day people from Gujarat gather together and give gifts to family and friends. Later in the day time, everyone gathers on the terrace and participate in the kite flying.
One may easily observe the excitement in the vibes on each face and hear the noise of people saying “Kai Po Che” after winning over the kite flying competition.
In this state, it is an auspicious day to grant scholarships to students for astrology, philosophy, and other higher studies.
Every year, people of Bengal celebrate the occasion of Makar Sankranti on a grand scale. A grand fair/ Mela takes place at Ganga Sagar. Here, people believe Ganga dives into the hind ashes of sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath.
Assam holds an imposing gala on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The festival is celebrated in the form of Bhogali Bihu. On this day, people gather together and pray to Lord Sun for a rich harvest.
Pongal is the other name for the people of Tamil Nadu. Here, people celebrate with great zeal. For the people of Tamil, Nadu this festival holds the value similar to the festival of Deepawali. Furthermore, particularly for farmers, this festival is very important.
Here, devotees celebrate a 40 days long festival in the form of anushthana.
In Maharashtra, it is the day to exchange tilguds (sesame seed laddoo) of numerous colors, jaggery, and til laddoo. Also, Maharashtra’s entire population believes in serving til-polis for lunch on the occasion of Makara Sankranti.
Furthermore, they say “til-gul ghya, god god bola’” meaning “eat these tilguds and speak sweet”. On this day, people visit their friends and relatives and offer them til laddoo.
Makar Sankranti is the harvest festival for the people of Andhra Pradesh. It is a day for worship and a grand celebration.
The celebration is called Pedda Panduga which means a huge festival in Andhra. Alongside the grand festivity on the first day, Bhogithe third-day Kanuma and fourth-day Mukkanuma are celebrated with enthusiasm.
As a matter of fact, the state of Punjab is famous for its enthusiastic people. Here, the festivity of Sankrant is known as Lohri. Also, on this day, people set huge bonfires, sing and dance on folksongs. In addition, people throw sugarcane, rice, and sweets in the bonfire and pray for a good harvest.
In point of fact, a huge farming population of India belongs to Punjab which makes this an important festival of people of Punjab. Therefore, people gather in groups and perform Bhangra and later they consume Sankranti special food. Hence, it is a wonderful sight to witness on the day of Sankrant.
With a religious belief, on the day of Makar Sankranti, a huge number of people take a dip in the holy river, Ganga. Alongside being the harvest festival for Indians, it is a day for holy bathing for Hindus.
Moreover, places like Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik observe a grand number of Indian populations coming to the city for taking a dip in the river Ganga. Also, people from Bengal, Allahabad, Ujjain, Odisha, and Nasikorganize majestic fairs.
Furthermore, at the same time as the festival, the Indian city of Allahabad observes the greatest number of visitors for a holy dip in Ganga because the festival falls during the imperial heritage of Allahabad i.e. Magh Mela.
In particular, the city observes a grand number of visitors on this day.
This year, the festival of Makar Sankranti falls on Tuesday, 15th January.
Also, dates for Makar Sankranti Next Five Years-
| Day | Date | Year |
| Tuesday | 15th January | 2019 |
| Wednesday | 15th January | 2020 |
| Thursday | 14th January | 2021 |
| Friday | 14th January | 2022 |
| Sunday | 15th January | 2023 |
| Monday | 15th January | 2024 |
These were some major details about the festival of Makar Sankranti. Also, you may like to know about Effects of Saturn in each house.
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