In India every year more than 2000 festivals are celebrated. Behind all these festivals, it is not just tradition or traditional things, behind every festival there is hidden knowledge, science, nature, health, and all things related to Ayurveda. Take Makar Sankranti, a festival celebrated by Hindus on 13 or 14 January every year, then it is celebrated on entering Capricorn from the Sun in Pausha month. Although Sankranti comes in every sign 12 times in a year, its entry into Capricorn and Cancer sign has special significance. Due to the increasing speed with which the sun enters Capricorn, the day becomes bigger and the night becomes smaller.
MAKAR SANKRANTI STORY
As per Hindu mythology, on this Auspicious day, Lord Surya went to his son, Lord Shani, Lord Shani represents Capricorn. To celebrate healthy relations between father and son, despite differences, importance was given to Makar Sankranti. It is believed that on this special day conflict between father and son are resolved and positivity is shared among them. Apart from this, there is another story of this special day, which is related to the life of Bhishma Pitamah, who was given this boon, that he will die by his own will. While he was lying on the arrows, he was waiting for the day of Uttarayan and he closed his eyes on this day and thus he attained salvation on this special day.
Makar Sankranti is very important for farmers, on this day all farmers harvest their crops. Makar Sankranti is the only festival in India that is celebrated every year on 13 or 14 January. From this day sun becomes “Uttarayan” or start moving towards the North. The Sun is a symbol of light, strength, and knowledge for Hindus. Makar Sankranti festival inspires everyone to move from darkness to light. From this day peoples incorporate new and auspicious works. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the environment is more spiritual and divine, so those who are endulged in spiritual practice can take advantage of this auspicious day.
HOW TO DO PUJA OF MAKAR SANKRANTI
People who observe this special day worship Makar Sankranti in their homes. Pooja Vidhi for this day is shown below-
First of all, before starting the Puja, take out the Punya Kaal Muhurta and Maha Punya Kaal Muhurta, and clean and cleanse your place of worship. By the way, this worship is done for Lord Surya, so this worship is dedicated to him.
After this, 4 black and 4 white teaspoon ladoos are kept on a plate. Also, keep some money on the plate.
After this, the next material in the plate is a mixture of rice flour and turmeric, betel nut, betel leaves, pure net, flowers, and incense sticks.
After this, the Lord is offered to the Lord by placing black lily and white ladle ladoos, some money, and sweets on a plate for the Lord’s offerings.
Offer Prasad to lord Surya and then perform aarti of lord Surya.
During the puja, women cover their heads.
After this, the Surya Mantra ‘Om Haran Hrim Hron Sah Surya Namah’ is recited at least 21 or 108 times.
MAKAR SANKRANTI DATE AND TIME
Every year Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th or 15th of January. In 2021, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on 15 January.
The auspicious time for auspicious time is between 07:14 am and 12:36 pm, which is a total of 5 hours and 21 minutes.
The solstice begins on 14 January at 20:05.
Apart from this, the auspicious time of the Maha Punya period is between 07:14 and 09:01, which is for a total of 1 hour 47 minutes.
Makar Sankranti puja benefits
*This increases consciousness and cosmic intelligence to many levels, so by doing this puja you can get the benefits of higher consciousness.
*The spiritual spirit enhances and purifies the body.
*Anything done during this period will give successful results.
*This is a religious time to spread religion and spirituality in society.
HOW TO CELEBRATE MAKAR SANKRANTI
In India Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great energy in every region of India. But it is celebrated in all different places with different names and traditions.
Uttar Pradesh: The festival of Makar Sankranti is known by the name of ‘Khichdi’ in Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar. On this Auspicious day devotees dive in holy rivers. On this auspicious day, A huge one month Magh Mela been organized in Prayag i.e. Allahabad. Apart from Triveni, religious baths are also held at many places like Haridwar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh and Patna in Bihar.
West Bengal: Every year a very big fair is organized in the Ganges Sagar. Where it is believed that the sage of sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagiratha was abandoned and a lower area was dived in the Ganges river.
Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Pongal festival, which is celebrated to start the harvesting day of farmers.
Andhra Pradesh: Makar Sankranti is known by the name of ‘Sankramama’ or ‘Pongal” in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Here Pongal is celebrated for continuous 3 days. This event is celebrated with full of energy by the peoples of Andhra Pradesh. In Telugu this festival is known as ‘Penda Panduga’.
Gujarat: It is celebrated in the name of Uttarayan in Gujarat and Rajasthan. In Gujrat Kite flying competition will be held in which huge number of people participates. It is a huge festival in Gujarat. In Gujrat there is a two days off as a National holiday for the festival of Makar Sankranti.
Bundelkhand: The festival of Makar Sankranti is known by the name of ;Sakrat’ in Bundelkhand, especially in Madhya Pradesh. This festival is celebrated with so much energy along with different varieties of sweets in Madhya Pradesh as well as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Sikkim.
Maharashtra: Til and jaggery dishes are exchanged in Maharashtra on Sankranti days, people speak “til-gull ghaya, gode god bola” to each other while offering sesame seeds. This day is very important for womens in Maharashtra. When married women invite guests named “Haldi Kumkum” and give them some utensils in the offering.
Kerala: On this day in Kerala, people perform 40 days of rituals as a big festival, which ends in Sabarimala.
Orissa: Many tribals in our country begin their new year on the day of Sankranti. Everyone dances and dances together. Bhuya tribals of Odisha include their Magh Yatra, in which items made in homes are kept for sale.
Haryana: It is celebrated in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh by the name of Magahi.
Punjab: It is celebrated in Punjab under the name Lohri, which holds great importance for all Punjabis,from this day all the farmers start reaping their crops and worshiping them.
Assam: In the villages of Assam Magh Bihu is celebrated in form of Makar Sankranti.
Kashmir: In Kashmir Makar Sankranti is known by Shishur.
Makar Sankranti festival in abroad
Makar Sankranti is not only celebrated in India but also in Other countries, But it is known by different names.
In Nepal, it is called Maghe Sankranti. In some parts of Nepal, it is also known as Magahi.
In Thailand, it is celebrated as Songkran.
In Myanmar, they are known by the name of Theognos.
In Cambodia, they celebrate under the name Moha Sangrakaran.
Ulavar in Sri Lanka is known by the name Thirunal.
In Laos know by the name P Ma Lao.
Even though Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different names in the world, but the hidden spirit behind it all is that of peace and peace. All celebrate it as a festival of light from the darkness.