Makar Sankranti festival holds special significance in India. It is one of the
important Hindu festivals, celebrated with pomp and gaiety across the length and
breadth of the country, with different names and of course, by observing
different rituals. The festival marks the commencement of Sun's journey to the
northern hemisphere, thereby making the days warmer and longer than the nights.
In other words, Sankranti marks the culmination of winter season and beginning
of harvest or spring season. All over India, Makar Sankranti is observed with
great fanfare. The celebrations of Makar Sankranti in the states of Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka deserve special mention. Read on to know
more about Makar Sankranti celebrations in different parts of India.
Makar Sankranti Festival Celebrations
In Maharashtra
On Makar Sankranti, people in Maharashtra enjoy their first sugarcane harvest
for the year. They would reap the sugarcane convert it into fresh jaggery. In
fact, sweets made of jaggery are distributed during the festival, as a part of
the traditions of Makar Sankranti. People exchange Til Gul (Sesame-Jaggery
sweet) that is specialty of the festival. Kite flying is one of the highlights
of the merrymaking, in the Marathi state. Women would wear new clothes and
accessorize themselves with new bangles, to take part in the celebrations.
In Andhra Pradesh
Makar Sankranti is a three-day festival in Andhra Pradesh. Celebrated on January
14 every year, Sankranti is preceded by Bhogi, when people follow the tradition
of burning unwanted matter. Kanuma is celebrated on January 15, wherein people
would worship cow. According to the legends, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan
hill to protect the people of Gokulam on Kanuma. Kanuma is dedicated to cows,
bulls and other animals. On Makar Sankranti day, people would prepare Pongali
(similar to Pongal in Tamil Nadu), a dish prepared by using the recent rice
harvest. The dish is offered to Sankranti Lakshmi first, and then consumed by
the devotees.
In Karnataka
People in Karnataka wear colorful dresses and visit their friends and relatives,
on the festive occasion of Makar Sankranti. There is a popular tradition of
exchanging pieces of sugarcane that has been harvested fresh, on Makar Sankranti.
In addition to this, people exchange a mixture of fried sesame seeds, molasses,
pieces of dry coconuts, fried gram and peanuts as a part of the good old
tradition. On Makar Sanskranti, animals are also honored. Domestic cows and
bulls are given a lavish bath, while their horns are painted with bright colors
and decorated with garland, as a part of the celebrations.
Gujarat
Makarsankranti is a two-day festival in Gujarat. It is celebrated with great
fanfare. Kite flying is one of the important traditions of Makar Sankranti in
the coastal state. On the day, the sky is dotted with colorful kites of various
shapes and sizes. The International Kite Festival held at Ahmedabad on January
14 coincides with the festival. There is a custom of giving gifts to relatives,
on the festival. Pundits consider the day auspicious and hence, grant
scholarships for their disciples to pursue further studies in various
disciplines, such as astrology and philosophy.
In Uttar Pradesh
People residing in Uttar Pradesh celebrate Makar Sankranti with religious
fervor. As per the traditions, they take a ritual bath in the holy River Ganga.
Thereafter, they would worship their favorite good, seeking a good harvest year
after year. Donating Khichdi (a cooked mixture of rice and lentils) on Makar
Sankranti is considered auspicious, and hence, a popular tradition followed in
the northern state. A big fair is organized at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, as a
part of the celebrations of Makar Sankranti. This fair is known as Magha Mela.
Places of pilgrimage including Haridwar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh are
flocked by devotees on Makar Sankranti and go there to take a holy dip in the
river.
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