Makar Sankranthi

Last Updated on March 19, 2019

Makar Sankranthi :

  • Makar Sankranthi is a Hindu Festival, celebrated in the name of Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Southern India
  • Makar Sankranthi is a very well known harvest festival that falls in the month of January every year
  • Makar Sankranthi falls on January 15 for the year 2015
  • The most famous mela held on Makar Sankranthi is Khumba Mela, that comes once in 12 years
  • The traditions, rituals and celebrations differs from state to state

Makar Sankranthi : (Short Essay)

Makar Sankranthi is one of the famous festivals that our Indian system cherishes with great entertainment. Makar Sankranthi represents the end of winter. It is more prominently known as the Harvest Festival; the day on which farmers are happy as they are going to see the fruits of their long term efforts. The festival day is highly auspicious and devotees pray Lord Surya with great dedication. The same festival is celebrated with similar customs in Punjab and Tamil Nadu In different names. In Tamil Nadu, the Harvest festival is named Pongal. People celebrate Pongal for four days. In Punjab, Lohri is the Harvest Festival.

Makar Sankranthi : (Brief Essay)

Indian festivals are very well known for their rituals and customs. One famous festival that is considered auspicious by people of all states in India is Makar Sankranthi. Makar Sankranthi is a Hindu propitious festival that is celebrated not only in India, but also in our neighbor country Nepal.

Makar Sankranthi is the harvest festival which brings happiness to farmers. Farmers are ready to harvest their long awaited efforts. Makar Sankratnthi also marks the end of winter season. This day, Sun transits it path to the zodiac sign “Makar” (Capricorn). The day falls in the month of January every year. For the year 2016, Makar Sankranthi falls on January 15.

Apart from these, Makar Sankranthi is considered as the beginning of holy phase. Good things start to happen after Makar Sankranthi, is what religious people believe. According to the ancient myths, Makar Sankranti is the day on which Lord Surya visits Lord Shani.
This auspicious festival is observed in different name with minor differences in rituals and customs in the states of India:

  • Tamil Nadu – Pongal
  • Kerala – End of Sabarimala Pilgrimage
  • Allahabad– Khumba Mela
  • Gujarat and Rajasthan – Uttarayan
  • Assam – Bohali Bihu
  • Karnataka – Sankranthi
  • Orissa – Makar Mela
  • Bengal – Ganga Sagar Mela and Pithey Parban