One of the few Indian festivals that falls on the same day every year according to the Gregorian calender.; On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters the sun-sign of Capricorn or Makara (the Indian rashi). Therefore the 'Makar' in the name. ; This festival is officially the beginning of spring or the onset of Indian summer and the days become longer, and nights shorter.;
One of the few Indian festivals that falls on the same day every year according to the Gregorian calender.
On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters the sun-sign of Capricorn or Makara (the Indian rashi). Therefore the 'Makar' in the name.
This festival is officially the beginning of spring or the onset of Indian summer and the days become longer, and nights shorter.
This festival is predominantly a harvest festival and is celebrated throughout India, from north to south and east to west.
Makar Sankranti is most popular in West India, down south, the festival is known as Pongal and in the north, it is celebrated as Lohri
Uttarayan, Maghi, Khichdi are some other names of the same festival.
Makar Sankranti is the festival of til-gul where sesame and jaggery laddoos or chikkis are distributed among all.
The festival falls in winter, eating of sesame and jaggery is considered beneficial to health as they are warm foods.
Since winter is also the time of a lot of infections and sickness, by basking in the sun, Hindus believed that the bad bacteria on their bodies would be cleared
Makar Sankranti generally marks the beginning of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh
While in South India, in Kerala, one of the most austere and difficult pilgrimages of Shabrimala ends on this auspicious day
Other parts of the country too, celebrate by taking a dip in the holy rivers flowing through states to cleanse themselves of sins.