🌞 Makar Sankranti – The Festival of Harvest & Sun
Makar Sankranti is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals in India, marking the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign Makara (Capricorn). It usually falls on January 14th every year (sometimes January 15th), symbolizing the end of the long winter nights and the beginning of longer, warmer days.
✨ Significance
- It is considered an auspicious day dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God), representing light, energy, and wisdom.
- Makar Sankranti also marks the start of the harvest season, when newly harvested crops like sugarcane, sesame, and rice are offered in gratitude.
- The day signifies the beginning of Uttarayan, the Sun’s northward journey, believed to bring positivity, prosperity, and spiritual growth.
📅 Rituals & Traditions
- Holy Bath (Snan): People take a dip in sacred rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Godavari, believed to cleanse sins and bring blessings.
- Offerings (Daan & Punya): Donating food, clothes, sesame seeds, jaggery, and blankets to the needy is considered highly meritorious.
- Delicacies: Special dishes made of til (sesame) and gur (jaggery) such as tilgul ladoo, rewri, and chikki are prepared and shared, symbolizing sweetness and togetherness.
- Kite Flying: In states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, colorful kite flying fills the skies, reflecting joy, energy, and the spirit of freedom.
- Regional Variations:
- In Punjab, it is celebrated as Lohri (bonfire festival).
- In Tamil Nadu, it is Pongal, a 4-day harvest festival.
- In Assam, it is Magh Bihu, marked with feasts and traditional games.
- In Andhra & Telangana, it is Pedda Panduga.
🌸 Spirit of the Festival
Makar Sankranti is not just a festival of harvest but also a time of unity, charity, and joy. It brings families and communities together, celebrates the bond between humans and nature, and spreads the message.
📢 We are delighted to inform you that the registration for Makar Sankranti celebrations will open in the first week of January. Stay tuned for the official link and details!
