Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana) - Worship of the Sun

The festivals of India speak volumes about our country’s rich, traditional and cultural heritage, and these festivals have become an integral part of every Indian’s life. Decoration of homes and temples, processions on streets, folk tales and songs, dance performances, prayers and rituals signify the elaborate celebrations of a multitude of festivals in India, each made of its own unique legend and folk tale.

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindu people, and is celebrated all over the country in innumerable cultural forms with great fervor, devotion and gaiety. ‘Makar’ literally means Capricorn and ‘sankranti’ is the day when the Sun passes from one zodiac to another. In fact, Sankranti falls in every month and the day is considered as auspicious as it indicates a fresh start of a new month. But Makar Sankranti is held in the month of ‘Magha’ in which the Sun passes from Cancer to Capricorn.

Millions of people take a dip in holy waters at places of pilgrimages like Prayag, Haridwar and Ganga Sagar. The devotees after the pious bath worship the Sun and offer their prayers. According to popular belief, one who does not bathe on this day is born a donkey in his or her next birth.
In southern parts of India, the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal, whereas in the state of Gujarat, apart from worshipping the Sun, the devotees also offer their colorful oblations in the form of kites. In the Eastern States of India such as Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu.

Makar Sankranti is also known as the Kite Festival, and by flying kites in the skyline, people try to send their prayers to reach the glorious Sun God. The legendary Bhishma Pitamah of the great Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ waited for this day to leave his mortal loop. According to mythological belief, it is said that, on this day the Sun travels on his chariot drawn by 7 horses from the southern sky to the northern sky. For pastoral people, the day signifies the end of winter and returning of the sun to the north.

In some parts of India, Makar Sankranti is observed as the harvest festival as it is the time when the farmers bring their harvest home. It is a method of thanksgiving to the elements of nature which help mankind in various forms. The day is also known as Khichri Sankranti, because on this day, people eat and give away khichri as charity to the poor and the needy. In the State of Maharashtra, the people celebrate the festival by preparing a dish called tilgul or laddoo, made of sesame seed and jaggery.