Makar Sankranti

The Hindu calender of India is full of festivals and among them one is Makar Sankranti. It is celebrated on the month of January either 13th or 14th. It is celebrated all over India with different names. Like in South India people celebrate it as Pongal, in Bengal as Sankranti, Gujrati call it Uttarayan, Assamese celebrate Bihu and in North India people celebrate Lohri just one day before the Makar sankranti. But all of them celebrate it as the harvest festival. It is one of the auspicious day in the Hindu calender and marks the beginning of the Magh and ascent of the sun to the North.

Celebration
People all over India celebrate this festival with great pomp and gaiety. Different Part of India celebrate this festival with different traditional rituals.
Southern India – The Southern part of India celebrate this festival as Pongal. In Andhra Pradesh and Kerala this festival lasts for a couple of days. Besides the Puja people boil rice and pulses with milk and offer to the family deity. Bull fights and other activities are also held during the festival.

Northern India – The people of North India specially the punjabis celebrate this festival as Lohri with huge bonfire. According to the custom they throw sweets, sugar cane, rice on the fire and dance and sing with families and friends.

Uttar Pradesh – In Uttar Pradesh it is known as Khichiri,. People take holy dip in the river Ganga with a belief that all the sins will be washed away.

Bengal – In Bengal a famous fair is organised at Ganga Sagar on that special day. Pilgrims also gather there to witness the fair. People make different types of petha (different types of sweets with combination of pulses) and til tikka on this occasion.

Maharashtra – The people of Maharashtra make Til Laddu on the day of sankranti and exchange it and greet each other with saying til-gul ghya, god god bola’ means ‘accept these tilguls and speak sweet words’. There is also a rituals of sharing gifts to the newly married women.

Gujarat – Apart from the family get together and exchange of gifts the people of Gujarat fly kites on this special day. It is now an internationally famous event.

Assam – In Assam this festival is known as Bhogali Bihu. People celebrate it by burning thatches and preparing variety of foods.

Though the different parts of India celebrate this festival in different ways but the main reason behind the celebration is to celebrate the harvest and thanks giving to the Almighty.