Makar Sankranti 2024: Know the date, history, significance and celebration of the first festival of Hindu calendar.

Makar Sankranti 2024 is a day full of enjoyable activities and traditional food, such kite flying and eating khichdi or dahi-chooda.

Every year, Makar Sankranti is observed to commemorate the start of the harvest season and the sun’s transit into Capricorn, which heralds the arrival of warmer weather and the end of the harsh winter. Following Makar Sankranti, the days grow longer, and Uttarayan lasts for around six months. Makar Sankranti is the most significant of the 12 Sankrantis that occur each year. Sankranti signifies movement of the sun.

Even though the festival’s name and customs are different, it is widely observed across the nation with great excitement. India celebrates a variety of holidays, including Makara sankranti in Karnataka, Pousha Sankranti in West Bengal, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Lohri in Punjab, and Magh Bihu in Assam.

During Makar Sankranti, people purge their homes of outdated items and replace them with new ones in the hopes that the coming year will bring them luck, success, and prosperity. Cleaning up the residences and taking an early morning bath precede the festivities, which are then followed by dressing in traditional attire. On this day, people worship Lord Surya and Lord Indra, the god of rain, in hopes of obtaining blessings for a bountiful crop and a happy new year.

Makar Sankranti is a day full of enjoyable activities and traditional food, such kite flying and eating khichdi or dahi-chooda. Foods produced with rice, jaggery, sugarcane, sesame seeds, maize, peanuts among others are made. Among the dishes that are customarily enjoyed during the celebration are gud kheer, popcorn, khichdi, undhiyu, and Til Kut.

Makar Sankranti 2024 date

Makar Sankranti is traditionally celebrated on January 14, however according to drikpanchang, this year’s celebration will take place on January 15, one day ahead of Lohri festivities on January 14.

Makar Sankranti 2024 history

Makar Sankranti’s history goes back a long way, especially in light of how important agriculture is to the nation. This time of year portends warmer and more fortunate days to come since it represents the start of the sun’s trek northward. During this period, Hindus also bathe in rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna for religious purposes, and a kumbh mela is held once every twelve years.

According to Hindu belief, a person who passes away during the fortunate month of Uttarayan is saved from the cycle of birth and death. It is stated that Bhishma Pitamah suffered a fatal wound during the great war of Kurukshetra. However, because to a boon bestowed by his father, he was able to choose when to pass away and postponed his final days on earth to occur during the Uttarayan period.

Makar Sankranti is also linked to the birth of the god “Narashansa,” who served as Kalki’s final incarnation and the first example of virtue during the Kaliyuga period.

Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as the day of triumph of good over evil as Lord Vishnu destroyed the demon Sankarasura on this day.

The Makar Sankranti festival is observed with great grandeur, and in some regions of the nation, celebrations last two to four days. Certain customs related to the celebration are shared by other civilizations, such as lighting bonfires, cooking rice and sugarcane delicacies, and taking part in music and dance performances.

To celebrate Lohri and combat the winter, bonfires are lit throughout Punjab. As friends and family gather to exchange gifts, taste gajaks, peanuts, revdi, and popcorn, and sing the Sundari Mundari Ho traditional song, the celebrations further warm people’s hearts.

Gujarat celebrates Makar Sankranti as Uttarayan, with kite flying being the most popular custom of the day. People are seen competing in kite flying competitions from their terraces, and the sky is transformed into a massive canvas covered in beautiful, vibrant kites.

To celebrate Lohri and combat the winter, bonfires are lit throughout Punjab. As friends and family gather to exchange gifts, taste gajaks, peanuts, revdi, and popcorn, and sing the Sundari Mundari Ho traditional song, the celebrations further warm people’s hearts.

Also read : Lohri 2024 Wishes: Send colorful and wonderful Lohri wishes to your loved ones with these messages.