Makar-Sankranti : A festival of joy and togetherness

India is the land of festivals. Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu religion, which they celebrate with great joy and happiness. The festival is celebrated every year on January 14 or 15, depending on the solar cycle. They celebrate by taking a holy bath in the river early in the morning and offering prayers to the sun, because according to Hindu mythology, the sun is one of the many gods.

Meaning of Makarsankranti:

The word Makar Sankranti is derived from the two words Makar and Sankranti. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition, so Makar Sankranti means the transition of the sun into Capricorn (zodiac sign). Moreover, in Hinduism, this occasion is a very sacred and auspicious occasion which is celebrated as a festival.

Historical Importance:

Bhishma was the son of Shantanu, who had received a special blessing from his father to die according to his will (Ichha Mrityu). Therefore, although he was lying on a bed of arrows, he remained in that position and left his body on Sankranti.

Celebrating the Festival:

It is a feast of togetherness and delicacies. The main cuisine of this festival is a dish of til and jaggery, which adds the right spice to the feast. Kite flying is also an important part of the festival.

During the day, the whole family enjoys kite flying and at this time, the sky is filled with many colorful and kites. In different parts of the country, this festival is celebrated differently and called by different names. The customs of each region are also different and each region celebrates it with their respective customs. However, the actual goal of the festival remains the same throughout the country: to spread prosperity, togetherness and joy.