Wishing you all a very Happy Makar Sankranti !!
The festival of Makar Sankranti is dedicated to the Sun God, Makar Sankranti is regarded for spiritual practices and accordingly, people take a holy dip in rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.
Makar Sankranti is known and celebrated with different names across the entire country -
1. Sankranti, Makara Sankranti, Makara Sankramanam, Pedda Panduga - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.
2. Pusna- West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya.
3. Suggi Habba Makara Sankramana, Makar Sankranti- Karnataka.
4. Uttarayan, Ghughuti - Uttarakhand.
5. Hangrai - Tripura.
6. Thai Pongal or Uzhavar Thirnul - Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia.
Maghi - Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu - Assam.
History of Makar Sankranti -
It is believed that Sankranti, after whom the festival is named, was a deity who killed a demon called Sankrasura, on the following day of Makar Sankranti the Devi killed the demon Kinkarasur. This is also the time when the sun begins to move towards north and before Makar Sankranti, the sun shines on the southern hemisphere. According to the Mahabharata, Bhisma Pitamah had waited for the sun to be in Uttarayan to embrace his death.
People worship the Sun God on this day, they also go for a holy dip in sacred water bodies, perform charity by giving alms to the needy, fly kites, prepare sweets made of sesame and jaggery, worship livestock and additionally, Khichdi is made and consumed during this particular festival especially in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. One significant reason is that Makar Sankranti is also known as "Khichdi", in Gorakhpur, it is a custom for devotees to offer Khichdi to Gorakhnath temple.
This year Surya Namaskar demonstration will be organized by the Ministry of AYUSH 75 lakh people globally on Makar Sankranti to commemorate the journey of the Sun to the Northern Hemisphere.
Every festival is incomplete without some lip smacking dishes here are some dishes which you can try during this Makar Sankranti -
1. Til ke Ladoo.
2. Til Gud ke Ladoo.
3. Peanut Chikki.
4. Puran Poli.
5. Undhiyu Recipe.
6. Sweet Pongal.
7. Nolen Gurer Payesh.
8. Curd rice.
9. Bhogi chi bhaji.
10. Chenna Poda.
11. Basundi.
12. Ven Pongal.
13. Sooji Halwa.
A small poem for Sankranti -
Kites flying in the sky,
Birds spreading their wings;
The aroma of til Ladoo,
The sun is shining bright;
My heart is delighted because, Sankranti is here,
Give my heart endless reasons to celebrate;
Should I smile?
Or just dance under the colorful sky,
Sankranti is here with a different vibe,
My tummy is waiting to taste the delicious khichdi;
The Sun God showering his endless blessings upon me,
My heart is delighted because Sankranti is here;
Entire country is decorated as a beautiful bride,
My heart is delighted because Sankranti is here;
My heart is delighted because Sankranti is here.
Makar Sankranti is observed with social festivities such as colorful decorations, rural children going from one house to another, singing and asking for treats, melas, dances, bonfire and feasts. Every 12 years, the Hindus observe Makar Sankranti with Kumbh mela at this event, they offer prayers to Sun God.
This Sankranti may your heart and thoughts be free,
May you fly high like a kite,
May your spirit be colorful as a kite,
May your soul regain its freedom during Sankranti.
Wishing you all a very happy Makar Sankranti once again !!
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