Makar Sankranti is the day when all things favorable begin.
Meaning of Makar Sankranti: The word Sankranti means to move from one place to another. The word Makar refers to the period when the Sun moves from the Sagittarius constellation to that of Capricorn.
Makar Sankranti Festival
Makar Sankranti is the name given to the harvest / spring festival which is celebrated in India by followers of the Hindu faith. Although it is celebrated across the country in different ways, the celebrations occur annually on the exact same day: January 14th. This is quite unusual for a festival in India, as practically all other festivals have varying dates every year depending on factors primarily related to astrological aspects. For example, Deepavali (Festival of Lights) not only covers a different set of days every year but sometimes will be in different months too.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
The festival is considered auspicious as it is the day when Surya (Sun God) steps over the threshold of the northern hemisphere. It results in more hours of daylight and fewer hours of darkness. Surya is the God of Light. Makar Sankranti thus signifies moving towards light not just in the sense of brighter days but, more importantly, in the sense of better knowledge and greater wisdom.
Furthermore, a good deed done on the day of Makar Sankranti is considered to reap good benefits. It is a day of happy beginnings and good progressions. It is said that babies born during Makar Sankranti will be happy babies and have prosperity in their lives; the baby is given a small special black mark (a streak of black kajal on the cheek or just a dot) to ward off evil.
Features, Rituals and Traditions of Makar Sankranti
In many States of India, people prepare a dish made from the staple food – rice and lentils – called kichadi. The most important food item during Makar Sankranti, though, is til (sesame seeds). As per Indian mythology, til originates from the body of the Hindu God Vishnu (considered the Preserver of all things). It is used in multiple forms – as cooking oil, massage oil and puja oil, as well as directly in food. In fact, til is said to have immense health benefits and it is considered especially beneficial to eat during winter months. This is because til is considered as an energy-giving source which spreads warmth in the body little by little, in miniscule amonts just like the small size of the til. During Makar Sankranti, til ladoos (see image on right) are made and consumed a good deal.
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In some States small packets of tilgul (see image) are given to others. In Maharashtra the person giving it will tell the recipient “Tilgul gyaa, god god bola” (Take til, speak sweetly). You may also have seen in some temples tilgul being given as prasad not just during Makar Sankranti but throughout the year.
Another tradition in Maharashtra is to wear black garme
nts. The colour black is said to absorb heat very well, thereby giving warmth to the body. The clothes don’t need to be entirely black. It could be a traditional Maharashtrian saree in black with a red border and small golden print or a black kurta over a red salwar and matched with a red dupatta.
Finally, this blog won’t be complete without information on the most popular feature of Makar Sankranti - Kite Flying. Today flying a kite during Makar Sankranti is not just a fun feature. It has grown into a huge phenomenon in India and there are even fierce competitions between individuals and groups of kite-fliers, with awards in cash or kind.
Meaning of Makar Sankranti: The word Sankranti means to move from one place to another. The word Makar refers to the period when the Sun moves from the Sagittarius constellation to that of Capricorn.
Makar Sankranti Festival
Makar Sankranti is the name given to the harvest / spring festival which is celebrated in India by followers of the Hindu faith. Although it is celebrated across the country in different ways, the celebrations occur annually on the exact same day: January 14th. This is quite unusual for a festival in India, as practically all other festivals have varying dates every year depending on factors primarily related to astrological aspects. For example, Deepavali (Festival of Lights) not only covers a different set of days every year but sometimes will be in different months too.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
The festival is considered auspicious as it is the day when Surya (Sun God) steps over the threshold of the northern hemisphere. It results in more hours of daylight and fewer hours of darkness. Surya is the God of Light. Makar Sankranti thus signifies moving towards light not just in the sense of brighter days but, more importantly, in the sense of better knowledge and greater wisdom.
Furthermore, a good deed done on the day of Makar Sankranti is considered to reap good benefits. It is a day of happy beginnings and good progressions. It is said that babies born during Makar Sankranti will be happy babies and have prosperity in their lives; the baby is given a small special black mark (a streak of black kajal on the cheek or just a dot) to ward off evil.
Features, Rituals and Traditions of Makar Sankranti
In many States of India, people prepare a dish made from the staple food – rice and lentils – called kichadi. The most important food item during Makar Sankranti, though, is til (sesame seeds). As per Indian mythology, til originates from the body of the Hindu God Vishnu (considered the Preserver of all things). It is used in multiple forms – as cooking oil, massage oil and puja oil, as well as directly in food. In fact, til is said to have immense health benefits and it is considered especially beneficial to eat during winter months. This is because til is considered as an energy-giving source which spreads warmth in the body little by little, in miniscule amonts just like the small size of the til. During Makar Sankranti, til ladoos (see image on right) are made and consumed a good deal.
Learn more here
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| Til Ladoos |
In some States small packets of tilgul (see image) are given to others. In Maharashtra the person giving it will tell the recipient “Tilgul gyaa, god god bola” (Take til, speak sweetly). You may also have seen in some temples tilgul being given as prasad not just during Makar Sankranti but throughout the year.
 |
| Tilgul packet |
nts. The colour black is said to absorb heat very well, thereby giving warmth to the body. The clothes don’t need to be entirely black. It could be a traditional Maharashtrian saree in black with a red border and small golden print or a black kurta over a red salwar and matched with a red dupatta.Finally, this blog won’t be complete without information on the most popular feature of Makar Sankranti - Kite Flying. Today flying a kite during Makar Sankranti is not just a fun feature. It has grown into a huge phenomenon in India and there are even fierce competitions between individuals and groups of kite-fliers, with awards in cash or kind.
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