Makar Sankranti is a time when Bengali households have the sweet wafting smell of nolen gur, Punjab gears up for the Lohri bonfire, and Bihari homes make their fragrant til sweets. While each culture celebrates differently, Makar Sankranti is a planetary shift felt by everyone!
The zodiac experiences a significant shift, which refers to the arrangement of the Earth's position around the sun, and this shift alters our perception of the planet, highlighting the importance of the Makar Sankranti celebration. Two major sankrantis occur throughout the year: Makar Sankranti, which occurs just before the summer solstice, and Karka Sankranti, which occurs immediately following the summer solstice. The space in between is filled with Sankrantis; each shift in the zodiac sign is referred to as a Sankranti to symbolise the planetary movement and the fact that our existence is supported and nurtured by it. While we are all affected by this planetary movement, the various regions of India observe it in their own unique ways! Let us delve into the multicultural threads that adorn the rites of Makar Sankranti, a holiday that exemplifies the rich diversity of our nation.
What is Makar Sankranti?
The Hindu festival of Makara Sankrānti, celebrated in India and Nepal around the middle of winter, is also known as Uttarāyana, Makara, or just Sankrānti. Traditionally observed on January 14th (or January 15th in a leap year), this festival symbolises the passage of the sun from Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara) in the zodiac. The event is celebrated to honour Surya, the solar deity, and is commemorated to signify a new beginning, as it coincides with the sun's passage from south to north. Countless multi-day festivities are held all over India to commemorate the anniversary.
How India celebrates Makar Sankranti
When the harvest is finally in, it's time to celebrate with the Makar Sankranti holiday, which is often called the harvest festival. Everyone who helped with the harvest is honoured on this day. Since the farm animals are so integral to the harvesting process, the day after, known as Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to them. The first day belongs to Mother Earth, the second to humanity, and the third to the livestock and other animals.
Kite flying and Ahmedabad's International Kite Festival celebrate Makar Sankranti, which is known as Uttarayan in Gujarat. On Til Sankranti, people in the Deccan region, including Maharashtra, share sweets made with sesame (til) and jaggery.The celebrations of Makar Sankranti Haldi Kumkum last for around thirty days in the western regions of Goa and Maharashtra. Inviting neighbours, friends, and family to their homes is a common practice among women. As a symbol of their joy in marriage, married ladies traditionally apply haldi kumkum to one another. This custom originated during the reign of the Peshwas in Maharashtra.
In some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Shishur Saankrati. As the sun starts its ascent toward the Northern Hemisphere, signaling the arrival of longer days and shorter nights, this day is celebrated. Some areas of Jammu also refer to it as Maghi Sangrand. The day before Lohri, people in Punjab light bonfires and make offerings. The people of Tamil Nadu celebrate Pongal on the same day by boiling a mixture of rice, sugar, and other ingredients. Makaravilakku and the pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Temple are celebrated simultaneously by devotees of the god Ayyappan in Kerala.
Assam and parts of Northeast India celebrate Magh Bihu, a harvest celebration, at the end of the harvest season in the month of Magh. At the end of the ritual, participants light a bonfire (Meji) and pray to the Fire God. On the last day of the Bengali month Poush, which is also called Makar Sankranti, a harvest celebration is celebrated in Bengal. To welcome Lakshmi, families in rural Bengal clean their homes, decorate them with rice flower paste (called alpana or rangoli), and hang little bunches of mango leaves and rice stalks.
Stuck at work during Makar Sankranti? Here’s how you can celebrate this tradition at home!
Makar Sankranti can still be a part of your day, even if you're busy with work! To honour the harvest spirit, start small and have a homemade til-jaggery sweet or a warm bowl of pongal-style khichdi in the morning. To mark the sun's journey north, light a diya near a window or balcony and take a moment to set an intention for new beginnings. Wear something festive if you can, even if it's just a little bit of yellow or white. Take a few minutes outside at night to get some fresh air, look up at the sky, and enjoy the change of seasons. Send a sweet message to your neighbours or coworkers, even if it's just online. Makar Sankranti is about gratitude, renewal, and celebrating light, no matter where you are.