Jan 14: Makar Sankranti is a festival that is celebrated all across India in various forms and styles. Augmenting the beginning of a season of festivals, this is a major Hindu festival. This is a harvest festival and is known to be the only kind of festival in India which falls on the same date every year. Signifying the beginning of the spring season, Makar Sankranti ushers in lot of prosperity, happinessand progress. In fact, in Maharashtra in India, the saying Til gul ghya godd godd bola meaning Have sweets made of til and speak with sweetness shows the importance of this festival in a different manner.
Scientifically, this is the time when the movement of the Sun is away from theTropic of Capricorn while it proceeds towards the northern hemisphere. This is a time when nature seems to take us towards light away from darkness. As the dark nights of the winter months move int he past, the Sun takes us towards more light and more energy signifying wisdom and thoughtfulness. Makar Sankranti is a festival of success and progress.
Indian states celebrate this special Indian festival in their own ways. Maharashtra has women wearing black sarees throughout the month and offering Haldi KumKum ( a special Indian custom of celebrating social togetherness amongst women offering vermillon and turmeric powder) and til gul ( sweet made of white til) . Gujarat is very famous for the Kite Festival during Sankranti . It is believed here that similar to the kite, we should progress towards greater heights. People across the world come to attend this festival.
Tamil Nadu celebrates Sankranti as Pongal. They make sweet rice made out of rice, lentils and jaggery and bake it in huge pots and shout Pongal O Pongal. In Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Makar Sankrat . Shimla celebrates Magha Saaja and it is Suggi in Karnataka.
Fairs and melas are commonplace during Makar Sankranti and the Kumbh Mela is a world famous mela held here every 12 years . It is usually held at Haridwar, Nashik, Prayag, and Ujjain.
India is a land of festive celebrations and unbeatable traditions. Makar Sankranti provides you with such an ambience of joy, vibrance and ecstasy. It is interesting to see the entire country come together in joyous celebrations during this time and take back memories of yet another beautiful year to look forward to. Till then’ Til Gul Ghya Godd Godd Bola’! Happy Makar Sankranti!
