Makar Sankranti, a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated annually on January 14th, marks the sun's transition into the Capricorn zodiac. This vibrant occasion is characterized by devout followers engaging in colorful rituals, flying kites, and sharing sesame sweets as a symbolic gesture of auspiciousness.

1. On this Day Lord Sun is Worshiped

Special prayers and offerings are dedicated to Lord Surya, expressing gratitude for the vital energy and warmth provided. This auspicious day signifies the end of winter and the beginning of longer days. Families come together for festive activities, flying kites, and enjoying traditional foods. The emphasis on sun worship reflects the spiritual and agricultural significance, symbolizing the renewal of life and the blessings of prosperity that come with the changing seasons.

2. Why Makar Sankranti Celebrated ? - because Sun entering capricorn

This joyous festival marks the end of winter and the sun's journey northward. Devotees believe that the Sun God, Surya, blesses the earth with warmth and prosperity during this transition. People engage in rituals, taking ceremonial baths, offering prayers, and expressing gratitude for the harvest. Flying kites, sharing sesame sweets, and enjoying festive meals are common traditions. Makar Sankranti symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and encourages unity among communities, celebrating the Sun's energy and its role in sustaining life.

3. Countries: Where is it Celebrated?

In India

Makar Sankranti is predominantly celebrated in India, marking the Sun's entry into Capricorn. This vibrant festival is observed across the country with diverse regional names, such as Pongal in South India and Magh Bihu in Assam. Families unite for festivities, flying kites, exchanging sweets, and enjoying traditional meals. From the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to the southern tip of Tamil Nadu, the celebration varies in customs but shares the common thread of expressing gratitude for nature's abundance. Makar Sankranti not only signifies seasonal changes but also showcases the rich cultural tapestry and unity in diversity across India.

In Nepal

Makar Sankranti is joyously celebrated in Nepal, sharing cultural roots with its Indian counterpart. Known as Maghe Sankranti, the festival holds immense significance for Nepalese Hindus. Families gather to honor the Sun's shift into Capricorn, marking the end of winter and the onset of longer days. Rituals include taking holy dips in rivers, offering prayers, and partaking in festive feasts. The occasion symbolizes new beginnings and prosperity. With traditions like flying kites and enjoying sesame-based sweets, Makar Sankranti in Nepal showcases a blend of religious observances and cultural festivities, strengthening the sense of community and connection to nature.

4. States: - Where it is Celebrated?

On Makar Sankranti, diverse celebrations unfold across India. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is joyously observed as Pongal, a harvest festival coinciding with Sankranti. Families gather to cook a special dish, also named Pongal, expressing gratitude for the harvest. In other states, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, where people engage in rituals like taking holy dips, flying kites, and sharing traditional sweets. The day holds religious significance as the Sun enters Capricorn, symbolizing new beginnings and prosperity. Despite regional variations, the common thread of gratitude for nature's bounty and the festive spirit unites people across the country.

5. Said to be Uttaranarayan - Sun is in North

Makar Sankranti, often referred to as Uttaranarayan, signifies the Sun's transition towards the north. This auspicious day celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of longer days in the Northern Hemisphere. Devotees believe that during this shift, the Sun brings positive energy and blessings. Rituals involve holy baths, prayers, and festivities, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. The term "Uttaranarayan" emphasizes the northern movement of the Sun. Families come together, flying kites and enjoying traditional meals, fostering a sense of unity and joy as they welcome the Sun's journey into the northern skies.

6. On this Day - Jaap, Donation, Bath, Shradhh is Auspicious

On Makar Sankranti, engaging in auspicious practices enhances the spiritual significance. Devotees find merit in performing jaap (chanting), making charitable donations, taking ritual baths, and observing shradhh (ancestral homage). Chanting prayers or mantras is believed to invoke positive energies. Generous donations symbolize compassion and abundance. Taking a holy bath in sacred rivers or ponds purifies the soul. Additionally, honoring ancestors through shradhh rituals is considered propitious. These acts reflect the day's spiritual essence, fostering a sense of purity, gratitude, and connection to both the divine and one's heritage.

7. On this Day - Importance of Donation - Native will Receive 100 Times Blessings

On Makar Sankranti, the significance of donation is profound as it is believed that the act of giving brings immense blessings. According to tradition, making donations on this auspicious day can result in receiving blessings equivalent to a hundredfold. Devotees engage in charitable acts, offering food, clothing, or other essentials to those in need. This gesture not only symbolizes compassion and generosity but also amplifies the spiritual merit of the giver. By sharing during Makar Sankranti, individuals seek to enhance their positive karma and invite abundant blessings, fostering a sense of goodwill and communal harmony.

8. Donation - Ghee, Kambal, Til, Khichdi etc.

During Makar Sankranti, donations hold special significance, encompassing items like ghee (clarified butter), kambal (blankets), til (sesame seeds), and khichdi (a dish made of lentils and rice). Offering ghee symbolizes purity and prosperity, while blankets provide warmth during the winter season. Til, representing fertility and energy, is a common donation, and khichdi is a staple food item, signifying nourishment. Devotees believe that contributing these essentials during the festival not only assists those in need but also enhances the giver's spiritual merit. These donations reflect the spirit of sharing and communal well-being that Makar Sankranti embodies.

9. Bath in Ganga River is Auspicious

Taking a holy dip in the Ganga River on Makar Sankranti is considered highly auspicious in Hindu tradition. Devotees believe that bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganges during this festival cleanses the soul of impurities and brings divine blessings. The Ganga is revered as a purifying force, and the act of immersion is believed to wash away sins and bestow spiritual upliftment. Pilgrims from various parts of India undertake this sacred journey to seek the divine blessings and connect with the spiritual essence of Makar Sankranti, fostering a sense of purity and renewal.

10. Celebrated with Flying Kites

Makar Sankranti is celebrated with the joyous tradition of flying kites. This cultural practice holds both religious and social significance. Flying kites symbolizes reaching for new heights and overcoming challenges, aligning with the spirit of the festival marking the Sun's journey into Capricorn. Additionally, the colorful kites dotting the sky are seen as a visual expression of the joy and positivity associated with the changing season. Families and friends come together on rooftops, engaging in friendly kite battles and enjoying the vibrant spectacle. The act of flying kites during Makar Sankranti fosters a sense of unity, celebration, and communal joy.

It is believed that on this day lord Sun visiting his Son Saturn’s place. As Capricorn rashi lord is Saturn, capricorn is also known as makar in hindi, that’s why it is named as Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti derives its name from the celestial connection between Lord Sun and his son Saturn. Believed to visit Saturn's abode in Capricorn (Makar in Hindi), the festival marks this cosmic event. Capricorn, the zodiac sign ruled by Saturn, holds significance in Hindu astrology. As the Sun enters Capricorn during Sankranti, the day is named Makar Sankranti. This celestial alignment is not just astronomical but carries spiritual symbolism, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between celestial bodies. Makar Sankranti celebrates this cosmic connection, signifying a moment of celestial significance and renewal in the cosmic order.

11. It is said that on this Day Ganga River Met Sagar

Makar Sankranti is steeped in mythology, and it is believed that on this day, the sacred Ganga River met the ocean, symbolizing a divine union. According to Hindu legend, King Bhagirath's penance led to the descent of the Ganga to Earth. The meeting point with the ocean is considered especially auspicious. Devotees believe that taking a dip in the Ganga on Makar Sankranti cleanses the soul and brings divine blessings. This mythological connection adds a profound layer of spirituality to the festival, emphasizing the sacred union of two mighty forces in Hindu cosmology.

12. ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं सूर्याय नमः - Mantra Jaap

The mantra "ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं सूर्याय नमः" (Om Hreem Hreem Suryaya Namah) holds special significance during Makar Sankranti. This chant is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. Devotees engage in the meditative repetition, known as mantra jaap, to invoke divine blessings and harness the energy of the sun. The vibrations of the mantra are believed to bring clarity, vitality, and spiritual illumination. Reciting this mantra during Makar Sankranti aligns with the festival's focus on the Sun's transition into Capricorn, symbolizing a sacred connection with the celestial forces and the blessings of Lord Surya.