Makar Sankranti, a Hindu harvest festival, is celebrated throughout India with different traditions and customs. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh celebrate for four days, with each day having its own unique activities. In Rajasthan, traditional sweets are shared and money is poured over children. Gujarat is famous for its colourful kite flying, while in Haryana and Delhi, people take holy dips in rivers to celebrate. This festival represents the unity in diversity of India's cultural fabric.
Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival of India, is celebrated on January 14th or 15th, marking the transition of the sun's path from Sagittarius (Dhanu) to Capricorn (Makara). The festival celebrates the sun's movement northward, signifying longer and warmer days. Makar Sankranti is a major festival in Hinduism and is celebrated with various traditions and customs across the country.
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Makar Sankranti holds great cultural and religious significance in Hinduism. It marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. It is also a time to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
The festival is celebrated with unique traditions and customs in different regions of India. In Punjab, it is known as Lohri, where people gather around bonfires, sing songs, and exchange sweets. In Rajasthan, people fly kites and engage in kite competitions. In Uttar Pradesh, a ritual bath in the holy river Ganga is performed, known as Ganga Snan.
Some of the common rituals and practices observed during Makar Sankranti include taking a holy dip in rivers or sacred water bodies, offering prayers to the Sun God, and preparing and sharing special foods. Traditional sweets and delicacies, such as til laddus, gajak, and pongal, are prepared and enjoyed during the festival.
Kite flying is an integral part of Makar Sankranti celebrations, particularly in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan. Kites of various colors and shapes fill the skies, symbolizing freedom, joy, and the breaking of old ties. The festival is also an occasion for people to come together, celebrate, and strengthen their bonds.
Makar Sankranti is also associated with the astrological shift or the sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). It is believed that the Sun's transit into Capricorn brings positive changes and is an auspicious time to start new ventures or make important decisions.
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