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Something about Makar Sankranti, Importance, History & How to celebrate


Makar Sankranti


Makar Sankranti 2020
Happy Makar Sankranti 2020

Makar Sankranti celebrated on 14th of January each year. Makar Sankranti is the Major Harvest Festival also known as Pongal, Uttarayan, Lohri, Paush Parbon and Bhogali Bihu. In Makar Sankranti, the word 'Makara' indicates Capricorn, while 'Sankranti' means transition. On the day of Makar Sankranti, Sun enters Capricorn from Sagittarius. This displacement process of leaving one sign and entering another is called Sankranti. Since the Sun enters into Capricorn, this time is called 'Makar Sankranti'. According to Hindu month, Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated in Paush Shukla Paksha.

There are 2 parts of the month on the basis of Moon - Krishna paksha and Shukla Paksha. Similarly, there are 2 parts of the year based on the Sun- Uttarayan and Dakshinayan. From this day the Sun becomes Uttarayan. When the Earth revolves around the sun & tilted on 23 and a half degree axis, there are 4 conditions in the year when the direct rays of the sun fall on the equator on 21 March and 23 September, the Tropic of Cancer on 21 June and the Tropic of Capricorn on 22 December.

Makar Sankranti also marks the beginning of spring and this festival is celebrated as the joy of the arrival of crops throughout unbroken India. Kharif crops are cut and Rabi crops are blooming in the fields. Mustard flowers look beautiful in the field.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different states of India in local ways. In South India, this festival is celebrated as Pongal. In Mahabharata, it is called Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is also known as Uttarayan, Maghi, Khichdi etc.

Due to very low atmospheric temperature in the winter season, diseases and diseases occur in the body quickly, so on this day, confectionery or dishes made of jaggery and sesame are made, eaten and distributed. These contain heat-generating elements as well as beneficial nutrients for the body. Khichdi is offered on this day in North India. Prasad of jaggery-sesame, Revdi, Gajak is distributed.

It is believed that on this day (Makar Sankranti), Surya had resented his son Shani Dev and went to his house, so on this day, bathing in the holy river, donating, worshipping, etc. becomes a thousand times virtuous. On this day, due to the end of Malamas and the auspicious month begins, people start well with charity. The day of Makar Sankranti is considered to be of happiness and prosperity.

Makar Sankranti is also known as 'Kite Festival'. The main reason behind flying kites is to spend a few hours in sunlight. This is the time of winter and in this season, morning sunlight is beneficial for the body and for the skin and bones.

Lord Shri Krishna has also said in the Gita, stating the importance of Uttarayan, that in the auspicious period of 6 months of Uttarayan, when Suryadev is Uttarayan and the earth remains light, then abandoning the body in this light does not reincarnate the person, such people Brahm is attained. This was the reason that Bhishma Pitamah had not renounced the body until the sun had passed away.

According to Hindu theology, the day of the gods begins on Makar Sankranti, which lasts till the month of Ashadh. In the Mahabharata period, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen Makar Sankranti to give up his body. On the day of Makar Sankranti, Gangaji followed Bhagirath and met Kapil Muni's ashram in the ocean. Maharaja Bhagiratha offered this day to his ancestors.


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