What is Makar Sankranti

The Sun God has changed its path and even the city sky is adorned with vividly coloured kites, surely the time is due for some till ladoos. It's Makar Sankranti...

Makara Sankranti marks the commencement of the Sun´s journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara raashi) and is a day of celebration all over the country. The day begins with people taking holy dips in sacred rivers and worshipping the Sun God.

Traditionally, this period is considered auspicious and veteran warrior Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. As the story goes Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjun during the war in Mahabharata. With his boon to choose his moment of death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period. It is believed that those who die in this period get freedom from rebirth.

People on the Gangetic plains begin the day by taking dips in the Ganga and offering water to the Sun God. The dip is said to purify them and wash away their sins. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. According to folklore, girls who take the holy dip get handsome husbands and boys get beautiful brides.

Most of the traditional dishes prepared on this day consist of Til (Sesame) and rice. In the rice-eating belt of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, people have a special rice-centric meal on this day. In Maharashtra, when two persons greet each other on this festive day, they exchange a few grains of multi-coloured sugar and fried til mixed with molasses and say "Til gul ghya, god god bola" (henceforth, let there be
only friendship and good thoughts between us). A special pancake of wheat flour stuffed with molasses is the treat for the day.

In Gujarat, pandits consider Sankranti an auspicious day to grant scholarships and certificates of merit to students who have successfully completed their studies in philosophy. In a Hindu household, new utensils are purchased and used for the first
time.

However, the characteristic of Sankranti nowadays are the brightly coloured kites that dot the skies. In fact, kite-flying competitions held all over the country, have become an international crowd-puller.

In fact, the coming weekend shall be celebrated as a major Kite-Flying Festival, including Kite making and flying competitions, dance and music programmes along with regional fairs.