Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi or simply Sankranti is celebrated across the Indian sub-continent on the 14th of January every year.
The term Uttarayan refers to the summer Solstice while Dakshinayan refers to the winter Solstice.
While the summer Solstice begins from mid Dec, Sankranti marks the entry of Sun into Capricorn (makar) zodiac, which happens around mid of January every year and hence the term Makar Sankranti.
The concept of Uttarayan and Dakshinayan is well explained in the ancient Vedic texts that give importance to the worship of the Sun God to provide good health, energy and vitality to all living beings on the planet Earth.
This festival also marks the early stages of agricultural in most parts of India.
The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names such as Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi in Punjab, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain in Jammu, Sakraat in Haryana, Sukarat in central India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, Dahi Chura in Bihar, Makara Sankranti in Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra & Goa. In West Bengal it is celebrated as Poush Sankranti. In Uttar Pradesh, it is called as Khichidi Sankranti. Uttarakhand celebrates it as ‘Uttrayni’, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrate it as Sankranthi.
In the Indian subcontinent, it is celebrated as Maghe Sankranti in Nepal, Songkran in Thailand, Thingyan in Myanmar, Mohan Songkran in Cambodia.
The reference of Makara Sankranti is also mentioned in the ancient Itihasa or epic, the Mahabharara, as Magha Mela.
The festival is celebrated amongst Hindus by making sticky bound sweets particularly from sesame (til) and a sugar base such as jaggery (gud, gur). This type of sweet is a symbolism for being together in peace and joyfulness, despite the uniqueness and differences between individuals. The sweet is usually called as Til gur. The celebration is associated with kite flying, savouries and praying to fire.
Makara Sankranti is an important pan-Indian solar festival, known by different names though observed on the same date, symbolizing and wishing good health, success and prosperity for the entire world.
Wishing you all a very happy Makara Sankranti.
Image source: internet and further animated.
