Makar Sankranti marks the tip of chilly winter.
Makar Sankranti, an historical Hindu pageant, is about to be celebrated on Monday (January 15, 2024), marking the transition of Solar into the zodiac signal of Capricorn (referred to as Makara in Sanskrit). This auspicious event, synonymous with harvest, kite-flying, and cultural festivities, resonates with vibrant traditions that adjust throughout India. The yr’s first pageant is well known round mid-January and the date is predicated on the photo voltaic calendar. In 2024, the Solar will transfer from Sagittarius to Capricorn two hours previous midnight (2.45am to be actual) on January 14, which is why Makar Sankranti might be celebrated on January 15. This astronomical occasion has been celebrated for hundreds of years, courting again to Vedic occasions.
Makar Sankranti 2024 date
This yr, Makar Sankranti falls on January 15, a day after Lohri. In line with Drik Panchang, the Sankranti time is 2:45 am on January 15. The Punya Kala lasts from 7:15 am to eight:07 pm (10 hours, 31 minutes), and Maha Punya Kala is from 7:15 am to 9:00 am (1 hour, 45 minutes).
Symbolism and religious significance
Past its astronomical roots, Makar Sankranti carries profound religious significance. The shift of the Solar symbolises a journey towards enlightenment and religious awakening. Devotees view this transition as an opportune second to rid themselves of negativity, embracing positivity and divine blessings.
Harvest celebrations
Makar Sankranti is often known as the harvest pageant. The pageant marks the tip of chilly winter, heralding longer days and the onset of the harvest season. The celebration is additional particular within the farming communities, as that is the time once they reap the fruits or their laborious labour.
Common meals on Makar Sankranti
- Til and Jaggery delicacies: Makar Sankranti is synonymous with a tasty array of til (sesame seeds) and jaggery-based treats. Conventional meals are til chikkis to melt-in-your-mouth til ladoos – bite-sized balls with warming sesame seeds and jaggery.
- Pongal within the South: Within the southern states, significantly Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is well known as Pongal. This distinctive celebration spans 4 days, with every day devoted to distinct culinary delights. An important dish of the pageant is Pongal, which is made with newly harvested rice, lentils and jaggery.
- Puran Poli: This can be a fashionable dish related to Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra. It’s a candy flatbread full of a pleasant combination of candy and crumbly moong that’s served for breakfast. Maharashtrians additionally put together the dish on Diwali.
- Dal Khichdi: Makar Sankranti is a harvest pageant, so folks use newly harvested rice and dal (lentils) to make khichdi. This can be a fashionable meals as a result of it’s mild and simply digested.
Group feasts
Makar Sankranti is a time for shared meals and communal feasts. Households and communities come collectively to share their meals, strengthening social bonds over pots of khichdi, gajak and regional specialties. The act of sharing meals turns into a celebration of abundance and a reminder of the significance of togetherness.
Rituals that outline Makar Sankranti
- Sacred dips: A major side of Makar Sankranti entails devotees taking ritualistic dips in sacred rivers, symbolising the cleaning of sins. The Ganges, Yamuna, and different revered water our bodies witness a surge of pilgrims in search of “religious purification”. The act of immersing oneself in chilly waters turns into an embodiment of devotion.
- Flying kites: The sky turns into a “battleground” throughout Makar Sankranti as kite lovers have interaction in fierce competitions. The custom is fashionable in cities like Ahmedabad and Jaipur the place colourful kites dance within the air. This custom not solely showcases talent and precision but additionally displays the spirit of pleasant competitors and celebration.
- Rangoli artistry: Properties come alive with intricate rangoli designs throughout Makar Sankranti. A riot of colors and patterns adorns doorsteps and turns into a visible celebration of creativity and cultural heritage.
- Folks performances: The beats of dholaks, the twirls of conventional dancers and the colourful vitality of folks performances add a rhythmic contact to Makar Sankranti celebrations. Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab, and different regional festivities amplify the cultural variety that defines the pageant.
Environmental consciousness
Sustainable celebrations: Lately, there was a rising consciousness of the environmental affect of festivals. Makar Sankranti lovers are more and more adopting eco-friendly kite supplies and biodegradable threads to cut back the pageant’s ecological footprint. This shift in the direction of sustainable celebrations displays a collective effort to steadiness custom with environmental duty.
Conservation initiatives: Some areas have integrated environmental conservation into their Makar Sankranti celebrations. Plantation drives, cleanliness campaigns, and consciousness applications spotlight the significance of preserving the pure sources that maintain agriculture, a central theme of the pageant.
Different names of Makar Sankranti
The pageant is well known in massive components of the nation across the identical time. It is called Pedda Panduga or Makara Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh, Makara Sankranti in Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Makara Chaula in Odisha, Til Sakraat or Dahi Chura in Bihar, Makaravilakku in Kerala, Poush Sankranti in West Bengal, Magha Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Haldi Kumkum in Maharashtra and Maghi Sankrant in Goa.
Makar Sankranti takes place proper after Lohri in Punjab, one other harvest pageant.
Financial institution vacation on Makar Sankranti
It’s the first massive pageant of the yr, and banks are closed in a number of states, in response to RBI calendar. Makar Sankranti is well known as Uttarayana Punyakala, Maghe Sankranti, Pongal and Magh Bihu so banks might be closed in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim and Assam.
Makar Sankranti on social media
Makar Sankranti developments on social media platforms, with customers sharing their experiences, culinary creations, and vibrant apparel. Hashtags like #MakarSankranti and #KiteFestival amplify the pageant’s attain, making a digital house the place the worldwide group converges to rejoice the wealthy tapestry of Indian tradition.
Individuals additionally organise digital occasions and dwell stream kite-flying competitions, together with different on-line cultural applications that enable folks from all over the world to take part within the festivities. This digital transformation enhances the inclusivity of the pageant.
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