Makar Sankranti
makara sankranti sanskrit मकरसङ्क्रान्ति romanized makarasaṅkrānti transl capricorn festival also referred uttarayana makar simply sankranti hindu observance festival usually falling date january annually january leap year occasion mark transition sun zodiac sagittarius dhanu capricorn makara since sun made transition vaguely coincides moving south north festival dedicated solar deity surya observed mark new beginning many native multiday festival organised occasion india festivity associated makar sankranti known various name including sankranthi peddha panduga andhra pradesh telangana khichari bhojpuri region magh bihu assam maghi saaji himachal pradesh makara sankranti kerala maghi sangrand punjab pongal tamil nadu maghi sangrand uttarain uttarayana jammu sakrat haryana sakraat rajasthan sukarat central india uttarayana gujarat uttar pradesh ghughuti uttarakhand dahi chura bihar makar sankranti odisha karnataka jharkhand maharashtra goa west bengal also called poush sankranti mokor sonkranti uttar pradesh also called khichidi sankranti uttarakhand also called uttarayani simply maghe sankranti nepal songkran thailand thingyan myanmar mohan songkran cambodia til sakraat mithila shishur senkrath kashmir makar sankranti surya hindu solar deity worshipped along vishnu goddess lakshmi throughout india makar sankranti observed social festivity colourful decoration rural child going house house singing asking treat area melas fair dance kite flying bonfire feast magha mela mentioned hindu epic mahabharata many observer go sacred river lake bathe ceremony thanks sun every twelve year hindu observe makar sankranti kumbha mela – one world largest mass pilgrimage estimated million people attending event event say prayer sun bathe prayagaraj confluence river ganga river yamuna tradition attributed adi shankaracharya makar sankranti time celebration thanks giving marked variety ritual tradition makar sankranti set solar cycle corresponds exact time astronomical event sun entering capricorn observed day usually fall january gregorian calendar january leap year makar sankrantis date time analogous sidereal time zodiac sign capricorn sun enters year day long time difference two consecutive instance makar sankranti almost year day year thus every four year calendar offset one day adjusted adding leap day february hence makar sankranti fall january every leap year sidereal time sign capricorn also shift day due leap year similarly time equinox also shift day four year window example equinox september fall date year winter solstice event related one revolution earth around sun date shift within four year cycle similar change seen exact time solstice equinox see table time equinox solstice increase decrease cycle four year time difference two consecutive winter solstice hour minute second respect winter solstice time time difference two consecutive mankar sankranti hour minute towards end st century occurrence makar sankranti january fouryear cycle makar sankranti january first year leap year makar sankranti celebrated sun ecliptic longitude becomes ° measured fixed starting point opposition spica ie sidereal measure uttarayana begin sun ecliptic longitude becomes ° measured vernal equinox ie tropical measure concern measure ° starting point different hence makar sankranti uttarayana occur different day gregorian calendar makar sankranti occurs january uttarayana start december due precession equinox tropical zodiac ie equinox solstice shift ° year result december solstice uttarayana continuously slowly moving away makar sankranti conversely december solstice uttarayana makar sankranti must coincided time distant past coincidence last happened year back ce every year makar sankranti celebrated month january festival dedicated hindu religious sun god surya significance surya traceable vedic text particularly gayatri mantra sacred hymn hinduism found scripture named rigveda makara sankranti also associated birth coming final avatar hindu god vishnu kalki makara sankranti regarded important spiritual practice accordingly people take holy dip river especially ganga yamuna godavari krishna kaveri bathing believed result merit absolution past sin also pray sun give thanks success prosperity shared cultural practice found amongst hindu various part india making sticky bound sweet particularly sesame til sugar base jaggery gud gur gul type sweet symbolism together peace joyfulness despite uniqueness difference individual part india period part early stage rabi crop agricultural cycle crop sown hard work field mostly time thus signifies period socializing family enjoying others company taking care cattle celebrating around bonfire gujarat festival celebrated flying kite makara sankranti important panindian solar festival known different name though observed date sometimes multiple date around makar sankranti known pedda pandugamakara sankranti andhra pradesh makara sankranti karnataka telangana maharashtra pongal tamil nadu magh bihu assam magha mela part central north india makar sankranti west makara sankranti shankaranti kerala name makar makara sankranti celebrated many part indian subcontinent regional variation known different name celebrated different custom different indian state south asian country sankranti makara sankranti makara sankramanam pedda panduga andhra pradesh telangana pusna west bengal assam meghalaya suggi habba makara sankramana makara sankranti karnataka makar sankranti uttarayana ghughuti uttarakhand makar sankranti makara mela makara chaula odisha makar sankranti sankaranti shankaranti kerala makar sankranti dahi chura til sankranti mithila jharkhand bihar chhattisgarh madhya pradesh rajasthan delhi makar sankranti maghi sankranti haldi kumkum sankranti maharashtra jammu goa nepal sikkim hangrai tripura pongal uzhavar thirunal tamil nadu sri lanka singapore malaysia uttarayana gujarat maghi haryana himachal pradesh punjab magh bihu bhogali bihu assam parshuram kund mela makara sankranti arunachal pradesh shishur saenkraat kashmir valley makar sakraat khichdi parv uttar pradesh western bihar poush sangkranti west bengal bangladesh tila sakrait mithila tirmoori pakistan region india sankranti festivity last two four day day celebrated distinct name ritual day – maghi preceded lohri bhogi panduga day – makara sankranti pongal pedda panduga uttarayana magh bihu day – mattu pongal kanuma panduga day – kaanum pongal mukkanuma celebrated differently across indian subcontinent many people take dip place like ganga sagar pray sun god surya celebrated pomp southern part india sankranti andhra pradesh telangana karnataka pongal tamil nadu punjab maghi many melas fair held makar sankranti famous kumbha mela held every year one four holy location namely haridwar prayag prayagraj ujjain nashik magha mela minikumbh mela held annually prayag gangasagar mela held head ganges river flow bay bengal makar mela odisha tusu mela also called tusu porab celebrated many part jharkhand west bengal poush mela held traditionally seventh day poush shantiniketan west bengal unrelated festival mela maghi held memory forty sikh martyr chalis mukte gave life protect guru gobind singh tenth guru sikhism every year muktsar sahib punjab tradition festival observed mentioned guru amar da third guru sikhism festival sankranti celebrated four day andhra pradesh telangana telugu woman decorate entrance home geometric pattern drawn using colored rice flour called muggu day – bhogi day – pedda pandugasankranti main festival day day – kanuma day – mukkanuma bhogi bhogi first day fourday festival celebrated bonfire log wood solidfuels wooden furniture home longer useful evening ceremony called bhogi pallu fruit harvest regi pallu sugarcane collected along flower season money often placed mixture treat poured child child collect money sweet fruit pedda pandugasankranti second main day fourday festival dedicated hindu god surya day mark start uttarayana sun enters th house zodiac makara commonly called pedda panduga big festival andhra pradesh state ariselu traditional sweet dish offered god kanuma third day fourday festival dedicated cattle domestic animal cattle decorated especially cow offered banana special meal worshipped day popular community sport kodi pandem begun playing next one two day especially coastal andhra region andhra pradesh mukkanuma fourth last day fourday festival many family hold reunion day magh bihu also called bhogali bihu bihu eating food enjoyment maghar domahi harvest festival celebrated assam india mark end harvesting season month maagha january–february assam celebration makar sankranti feasting lasting week festival marked feast bonfire day bihu start early dawn postharvesting ceremony called meji bonfire burned house temple field people pray agnidev blessing young people erect makeshift hut known meji bhelaghar bamboo leaf thatch bhelaghar eat food prepared feast burn hut next morning celebration also feature traditional assamese game tekeli bhonga potbreaking buffalo fighting magh bihu celebration start last day previous month month pooh usually th pooh usually january day magh bihu modern time earlier festival would last whole month magh name magh bihu night uruka th pooh people gather around bonfire cook dinner make merry magh bihu people assam make cake rice various name shunga pitha til pitha etc sweet coconut called laru laskara popularly known sakraat khichdi western bihar til sakraat dahi chura rest bihar people usually eat dahi chura flattened rice sweet made til sesame seed chini sugargudjaggery tilkut tilwa til ke ladoo etc state crop harvested around time sesame seed paddy etc known sankrant goa like rest country people distribute sweet form granule sugarcoated till pulse among family member friend newly married woman offer five sughat small clay pot black beaded thread tied around deity pot filled newly harvested food grain offered betel leaf areca nut observance take place rather subdued note unlike major festival region like ganesh chaturthi uttarayana makar sankranti called gujarati major festival state gujarat last two day january uttarayana january vasiuttarayana stale uttarayana gujarati people keenly await festival fly kite called patang kite uttarayana made special lightweight paper bamboo mostly rhombus shaped central spine single bow string often contains abrasive cut rival kite large number kite lead injury fatality among bird jivdaya charitable trust local animal welfare charity started save bird campaign example asking people fly kite time day bird less likely flying find food gujarat december makar sankranti people start enjoying uttarayana undhiyu spicy baked mix winter vegetable chikkis made til sesame seed peanut jaggery special festival recipe savoured day hindu sindhi community western region india also found southeastern part pakistan celebrate makar sankranti tirmoori day parent sending sweet dish daughter sakraant haryana delhi rural area celebrated traditional hindu ritual north india similar western border area rajasthan punjab includes ritual purification taking holy dip river especially yamuna sacred pond ancient sarovars kurukshetra local tirtha pond associated ancestral guardianfounder deity village called jathera dhok dahak sanskrit fire village wash away sin people prepare kheer churma halva desi ghee distribute tilgud sesame jaggery laddoos chikkis brother married woman visit home gift pack called sindhara sidha wood warm clothing husband family woman give gift inlaws called manana woman congregate nearby havelis sing haryani folk song exchange gift jammu makar sankranti celebrated uttrain derived sanskrit uttarayana alternatively term attrain attrani also used describe festival day celebrated lohri dogras commemorate end poh pausha month also beginning magha month per hindu solar calendar hence also known maghi sangrand sankranti magh month among dogras tradition mansana charity khichdi maah dal khichdi maah di dal also prepared day day also referred khichdi wala parva also tradition sending khichdi food item house married daughter fair organised holy place pligrimages day dhagwal hiranagar tehsil known fair makar sankranti janamashtami people jammu also take holy bath devika river pilgrimage like uttar behni purmandal occasion day also celebrated birth anniversary baba ambo ji local deity jammu region vasuki temple bhaderwah jammu idol vasuki nag covered magh sankranti uncovered three month vaisakha sankranti suggi ಸುಗ್ಗಿ harvest festival farmer karnataka auspicious day girl wear new clothes visit near dear one sankranti offering plate exchange family ritual called ellu birodhu plate would normally contain ellu white sesame seed mixed fried groundnut neatly cut dry coconut fine cut bella jaggery mixture called ellubella ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ plate contains shaped sugar candy mould sakkare acchu ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಅಚ್ಚು piece sugarcane saying kannada ellu bella thindu olle maathadi translates eat mixture sesame seed jaggery speak good festival signifies harvest season since sugarcane predominant part ellu bella ellu unde banana sugarcane red berry haldi kumkum small gift item useful everyday life often exchanged among woman karnataka occasion newly married woman give away banana five year married woman first year marriage kite flying drawing rangolis giving away red berry known yalchi kai intrinsic part festival another vital ritual rural karnataka display decorated cow bull procession done also made cross fire custom known kichchu haayisuvudu maharashtra makar sankranti day people exchange tilgul sweetmeat made sesame seed jaggery famous line associated joyous occasion til gul ghya god god bola eat sesame jaggery speak sweet word tilacha halwa sugar granule also offered prasad devghar prayer room seeking blessing gulachi poli popular flat bread stuffed shredded jaggery ground til pure ghee enjoyed lunch well dinner married woman invite friendsfamily member celebrate haldikunku guest given tilgul small gift part ritual day hindu woman men make point wear black clothes sakranti fall winter month region wearing black add body warmth essential reason behind wearing black otherwise barred festival day per another legend lord surya forgave son shani son visited sankranti essential reason people distribute sweet urge let go negative angry feeling also newly married woman offer five sunghat small clay pot black beaded thread tied around shakti deity pot filled newly harvested food grain offered betel leaf areca nut observance take place rather subdued note unlike major festival region like ganesh chaturthi festival known makara sankranti odisha people prepare makara chaula odia ମକର ଚାଉଳ uncooked newly harvested rice banana coconut jaggery sesame rasagola khailiaa chhena pudding naivedya god goddess withdrawing winter entail change food habit intake nourishing rich food therefore festival hold traditional cultural significance astronomically important devotee worship sun god great konark temple fervour enthusiasm sun start annual swing northward according various indian calendar sun movement change day day onwards become lengthier warmer sungod worshiped day great benefactor many individual start day perform ritual bath fasting makara mela fun fair observed dhabaleswar cuttack hatakeshwar atri khordha makara muni temple balasore near deity district odisha puri special ritual carried temple lord jagannath mayurbhanj keonjhar kalahandi koraput sundargarh tribal population greater festival celebrated great joy celebrate festival great enthusiasm singing dancing generally enjoyable time makara sankranti celebration next odia traditional new year maha vishuva sankranti fall mid april tribal group celebrate traditional dancing eating particular dish sitting together lighting bonfire punjab makar sankranti celebrated maghi religious cultural festival bathing river early hour maghi important hindu light lamp sesame oil supposed give prosperity drive away sin major mela held sri muktsar sahib maghi commemorates historical event sikh history makar sankrati sakraat rajasthani language one major festival state rajasthan day celebrated special rajasthani delicacy sweet pheeni either sweet milk sugar syrup dipped tilpatti gajak kheer ghevar pakodi puwa tilladdoo specially woman region observe ritual give type object related household makeup food married woman first sankranti experienced married woman significance invited parent brother house husband big feast people invite friend relative specially sister daughter home special festival meal called sankrant bhoj people give many kind small gift tilgud jaggery fruit dry khichadi etc brahmin needy one kite flying traditionally observed part festival occasion sky jaipur hadoti region filled kite youngster engage contest trying cut others string malwa nimar region kite flying popular makar sankranti fourday festival south india day bhogi pandigai day thai pongal day maattu pongal day kaanum pongal festival celebrated four day last day tamil month margazhi third day tamil month thai pausha bhogi first day festival bhogi celebrated last day margazhi discarding household item setting fire marking end old emergence new village simple ceremony kappu kattu kappu mean secure neem leaf kept along wall roof house eliminate evil force day also held honor indra hindu god rain thai pongal second day festival thai pongal simply pongal celebrated boiling rice fresh milk jaggery new pot later topped brown sugar cashew nut raisin early morning allowing boil vessel tradition give pongal name moment rice boil bubble vessel tradition shout பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் ponggalo ponggal blow sangu conch custom practised announce going year blessed good tidings new boiled rice offered sun god sunrise prayer symbolises thanks sun providing prosperity later served people house ceremony people prepare savoury sweet vadai murukku payasam visit exchange greeting maattu pongal third day festival maattu pongal offering thanks cattle help farmer agriculture day cattle decorated paint flower bell allowed roam free fed sweet rice sugar cane people decorate horn gold metallic cover place jallikattu taming wild bull contest main event day mostly seen village kaanum pongal fourth day festival kaanum pongal காணும் பொங்கல் word kaanum mean view day people visit relative friend enjoy festive season day thank relative friend support harvest started farmer festival called uzhavar thirunaal tamil kolam கோலம் decoration made front house thai pongal festival kerala called sankranti makara sankranti malabar village used celebrated victory demon sabarimala day makaravilakku lit show significanceofthelord god tripuri promoter hangrai festival first introduced festival immersing ancestor remains holy river since adopted group india popularized year mythology inform u world created lord siva sibrai grassland nothing present god created egg produce human egg hatched give birth human creating big bang crawled eggshell looked around anyone like found none total silence peace tranquility harmony earth frightened seeing scenario earth remained near eggshell time went back near empty eggshell went inside half shell covered another one hid almighty god upset development year later created another egg ten month hatched big bang hatched shook earth gave birth another human courageous powerful soon came human eggshell started shouting announced whole world first born earth eldest earth one elder earth named subrai declared whole earth ruler earth king universe hearing big bang hangrai got frightened closed eye silently remained inside shell heard voice like came shell met subrai subrai told older hangrai since subrai became elder brother hangrai people knew thousand year later grew older time come leave world hangrai grew older subrai one day felt sick seriously hangrai death bed subrai taking care god came said among hangrai elder subrai know created hangrai leave earth soon subrai necessary ritual cremate body hangrai god disappeared subrai cried like baby touching foot hangrai saying elder brother treated like younger brother thousand year forgive wrongdoing unto hangrai said done touched head gesture forgiving blessing unto breadth last death hangrai younger brother subrai cremated body ritual immerged hangrais remaining holy water river last day pousa month since people observed ritual festival every year continued day day named hangrai later adopted ethnic group people india every year day hangrai tripuri people observe grand pomp show every house tripuri preparation hangrai start twothree day house cleaned washed whitewashed utensil clothes article cleaned home decorated different type tripura cake dish drink prepared near dear one relative invited feast festival known kicheri purvanchal awadh part uttar pradesh involves ritual bathing two million people gather respective sacred place holy bathing prayagraj varanasi uttar pradesh haridwar uttarakhand day domestic household begin taking ritual bath sunrise ritualistic prayer rising sun also includes pledging donating food clothing money brahmin called purohita followed generous gifting food clothing jewellery money female relative like married daughter sister daughterinlaws family sesame seed jaggery chiura yogurt eaten post prayer followed khichdi next meal hence vernacular name festival makar sankranti popular festival uttarakhand known various name different part state uttarayani khichri sangrand pusyodia ghughutia ghughuti tyar kale kauva makrain makraini gholda gwalda chunyatyar kumaon region uttarakhand makar sankranti also called ghughuti घुघुति ghughuti tyar ghughutia kale kauva uttarayani celebrated great gusto famous uttarayani mela fair held bageshwar town year month january occasion makar sankrati according almora gazetteer even early twentieth century annual uttarayani mela bageshwar visited approximately people largest fair kumaon division religious ritual uttarayani mela consists bathing daybreak confluence saryu gomati followed offering water lord shiva inside bagnath temple religiously disposed continue practice three day succession known trimaghi day people also give khichdi dish made mixing pulse rice charity take ceremonial dip holy river participate uttarayani fair offer deep fried sweetmeat consisting flour jaggery crow bird way pay homage departed soul ancestor west bengal sankranti also known poush sankranti named bengali month fall last date month celebrated harvest festival poush parbon bengali পৌষ পার্বণ fall january western calendar freshly harvested paddy date palm syrup form khejurer gur bengali খেজুরের গুড় patali bengali পাটালি used preparation variety traditional bengali sweet made rice flour coconut milk khejurer gur date palm jaggery known pitha bengali পিঠে section society participate threeday festival begin day sankranti end day goddess lakshmi usually worshipped day sankranti himalayan region darjeeling festival known magey sakrati distinctly associated worship lord shiva traditionally people bathe sunrise commence pooja elsewhere many people take dip place like ganga sagar ganga sagar fall west bengal shakrain annual celebration winter bangladesh downtown dhaka observed flying kite many family village across bangladesh observe makar sankranti many way midnight january people light firework mark beginning holiday betting game played fruit similar dice game family round ingredient compete others village see create largest variety pithas others go fishing pond creek stream see catch largest fish fun holiday many wait yearlong holiday observed significant amount bengali diaspora well maghe sankranti nepalese festival observed first magha vikram sambat b calendar january tharu people celebrate particular day new year also regarded major government declared annual festival magar community observant hindu take ritual bath festival include sankhamul bagmati near patan gandakinarayani river basin triveni devghat near chitwan valley ridi kaligandaki koshi river basin dolalghat sun koshi festive food like laddoo ghee sweet potato distributed festive day sindhi parent send ladoos chiki laaee made sesame seed married daughter sindhi community india celebrate makar sankranti tirmoori involves parent sending sweet dish daughter day tamil farmer tamil people honour perform pooja sun god suriya narayanan happens sun enters zodiac sign capricorn makara thai pongal festival celebrated midjanuary tamil month thai coincide rice harvest pongal practice ritual sri lanka diasporic country arent much differentiated followed southern india outside notably jalikkattu practice existent among sri lankan tamil diasporic tamil community sri lanka celebration pongal extend generally two day four instead pongal dish similar food called pukkai offered preparation happen first day second india pongal start one day earlier boghi day hence pongal celebration focused day thai pongal astronomical basis hindu calendar list hindu festival jallikattu list harvest festival uttarayana