Makar Sankranti
Celebrated Transmigration of the Sun
Makar Sankranti is a Hindu Festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev). This festival marks the end of the winters and the beginning of new harvest season. The sanskrit word “Makar” corresponds to the “Capricorn” sign and “Sankranti” translates to “transmigration”. Hence, the term “Makar Sankranti” translates to “first day of the sun’s transit into the “Makar Rashi”(Capricorn)”
Before Makar Sankranti the sun is in the southern hemisphere. For this reason, nights are longer and days are shorter in India. However, with the arrival of Makar Sankranti, the sun starts its journey towards the northern hemisphere. Hence days start to get longer and nights get shorter. This day is also called “Uttaryan” due to this northern transit of the Sun. “Uttaryan” is a sanskrit word meaning “the transit towards the north”.
Religious Significance
Sankranti is deemed a Deity in the Hindu scriptures. As per the legends, Sankranti killed a demon named Sankarasur on this day. The next day to Makar Sankranti is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On this day, Devi slew another demon named Kinkarasur. All the information on the age, form, clothing, direction and movement of Sankranti is readily available in Panchaang.
According to Dirk Panchaang, the time between Makar Sankranti and 40 Ghatis from Markar Sankranti is called Punya Kaal. Ghati is a vedic unit of time and is equivalent to 24 minutes. So, 40 Ghatis are roughly equivalent to 16 hours.
Punya Kaal is considered good for Dharma Karya (religious and good moral acts). So any form of Daan (donations) and dharma should be done during this period. However, the Punya Kaal activities should only be done during the day.
The period from Karka Sankranti to Makar Sankranti is known as the “Dakshinayan” and symbolizes negativity. It is also called “the night of Gods”. “Uttarayan” is considered as as the day of the God or a sign of positivity.
Normally the sun affects all the zodiac signs. But, it is said that the entry of the sun from the Zodiac sign of Cancer to Capricorn is religiously very fruitful.
Why is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?
Makar Sankranti is one of the very few auspicious day based on the cycle of the Sun. It indicates the end of winters and the beginning of the new harvest season. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the honor of the Sun God, Surya and for the arrival of the new harvest season.
It is celebrated all over the Indian subcontinent by different names. The main reason for such wide spread acceptance of this festival is due to us being an agricultural society.
It is widely accepted that winter months are for rest and hibernation, primarily due to tough surviving conditions. The ground is too cold for anything to germinate due to the lack of sun. Since this day practically means a favorable change in the living conditions, it is quite easy to understand its significance. This festival also marks the beginning of new lively hood opportunities for everyone.
When is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?
Almost all the Hindu festivals are celebrated according to the Panchaang. It is a Hindu calendar based on the cycles of the Moon. But, Makar Sankranti is dedicated to the Sun god (Surya Dev). Hence, it follows the cycle of the Sun.
Makar Sankranti is usually observed on 14th January every year. But, in case of leap year, the sun is lagging behind one day, hence, this festival is observed on 15th January.
The cycles of revolution of the Earth is ever changing. So, in order to recompense for the distinction caused due to the revolution of Earth around the sun, the festival of Makar Sankranti is deferred by One day every 80 years.
How is Makar Sankranti Celebrated?
Makar Sankranti is observed with social festivities such as colourful decorations, melas (fairs), dances, kite flying, bonfires and feasts. The Magha Mela is also mentioned in teh Hindu Epic Mahabharata. Many observers go to sacred rivers or lakes and bathe in a ceremony of thanks to the sun.
Every 12 years, the Hindus observe this festival with Kumbh Mela – one of the world’s largest pilgrimage, with an estimated 40 to 100 million people attending the month long event. At this event, they say prayer to the sun and bathe at the Prayaga, confluence of the River Ganga and River Yamuna, a tradition attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
There are various types of different rituals and traditions that are followed at different places such as:-
Different Rituals and Traditions of the Festival
- People express their gratitude by worshipping the Sun God in various forms by doing meritorious deeds and making donation.
- Haldi Kumkum ceremony is performed in a way that invokes the waves of quiescent Adi-Shakti in the universe. This helps in generating an impression of devotion in the mind of a person and enhances the Spiritual connection to God.
- In Uttar Pradesh, it is considered as the “festival of Donation”. On this day, people do fasts and eat and offer kichdi. Also, Kichdi Mela is organized at Gorakhdham in Gorakhpur.
- The Magh fair (popularly known as Kumbh Mela or Maha Kumbh) which lasts for one month along the banks of holy rivers starts on this day. The kumbh mela is observed in 4 holy cities of Prayagraj (formerly known as Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain once every 4 years in a cycle. The Mela is observed in the same city once every 12 years.
- In Bihar, the Makar Sankranti festival is known as Kichdi. On this day, donating urad, rice, gold, woollen clothes, blankets, etc. have their own importance.
- In Maharashtra, all newly married women donate cotton, oil and salt to other married women on their first Sankrant after marriage.
- In Bengal, there is a tradition of donating til, after taking bath on Makar Sankrant. A huge fair is also organized every year at Gangasagar.
- In Tamil Nadu, a 4 day long festival is observed on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and is known as Pongal
- In Gujarat, a kite festival is organized on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
Different Names of the Festival
The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over the Indian Sub-Continent. Due to the widespread area, believes and language differences, traditional and cultural differences, it has different names around the country.
The different names of the festival as they are known in different parts of the sub-continent are as follows:-
- Magh Bihu in Assam
- Maghi in Punjab
- Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh
- Sakraat in Haryana
- Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain in Jammu
- Sukarat in Central India
- Pongal in Tamil Nadu
- Uttarayan in Gujarat
- Ghughuti/Kichdi Sankranti in Uttarakhand
- Makara Sankranti in Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa
- Poush Sankranti/Makara Sankranti in West Bengal and Bangladesh
- Uttarayan/Makar Sankranti/Kichdi Sankranti in Uttar Pradesh
- Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Shishur Sankrat in Kashmir
- Maghe Sankranti in Nepal
- Songkran in Thiland
- Thingyan in Myanmar
- Mohan Songkran in Cambodia