Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival that holds huge significance for devotees. On the festival of Makar Sankranti, devotees observe a grand celebration across the Indian subcontinent. Read to know more about the festival.
India is a land of festivals. Each festival in India has its own unique relevance, significance, and importance borne out of people's beliefs. India is known for cultural diversity, as different people with different beliefs make up the nation. This is why there are many festivals celebrated in India, and each of these festivals offers everyone an opportunity to rejoice and celebrate. Celebrated in the cold month of January every year, Makar Sankranti can be termed as the first major Hindu festival celebrated in India. Makar Sankranti, also known as Maghi, is an annual Hindu festival devoted to Surya Dev or Sun God.
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Makar Sankranti 2022 Date And Time
The festival of Makar Sankranti falls on almost the same day every year, according to the Gregorian calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, the occasion of Makar Sankranti falls every year on the 14th or 15th of January. The Makar Sankranti 2022 date and timings are given below.
Makar Sankranti 2022 - 14th January 2022 (Friday)
Makar Sankranti Punya Kala Timing - 02:43 PM to 05:45 PM (IST)
Makar Sankranti Maha Punya Kala Timing - 02:43 PM to 04:28 PM (IST)
In many regions of India, the Makar Sankranti festivities last for two to four days. For example, in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is a four-day festival. Each day of the festival is celebrated with distinct names and customs. The dates for the four days are given below.
Makar Sankranti is one of the most pious Hindu festivals. This festival is one of the few Hindu festivals aligned with the solar cycle. As per the Vedas, 'Sankranti' means the 'transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi or constellation of the zodiac sign to another. This is why there are twelve Sankrantis in a year. The festival of Makar Sankranti marks the onset of warmer and longer days and bids farewell to the cold winter months. Prior to the Makar Sankranti, the Sun is in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why winter nights are longer in India, and the days are smaller. However, the Sun begins its journey towards the Northern Hemisphere with this occasion. Due to this phenomenon, the days become longer and the nights smaller. Devotees celebrate this ascent of the Sun into the Northern Hemisphere with splendor and pomp.
Also known as Maghi, Makar Sankranti is a festival devoted to Surya Dev or Lord Sun. In India, the Sun is considered a divine and powerful deity. Therefore, the festival is dedicated to the devotion of Surya Dev. It marks the start of the harvest season. This is why the Makar Sankranti festival is referred to as the harvest festival. The harvest festival brings about a change in the season as the Sun moves from the South or Dakshinayana to Uttarayana or the Northern Hemisphere. This period is known as Uttarayana and is considered to be incredibly auspicious. Dakshinayana symbolizes the night and all things negative, whereas the Uttarayana is regarded as the symbol of day and a sign of positivity.
This particular harvest festival holds religious and seasonal importance for Hindus across India. On the crucial occasion of Makar Sankranti, people worship the Sun God in various forms to express their gratitude. It is believed that any donations or meritorious deeds done during this period can prove to be fruitful and beneficial for you.
What Is The Astrological Relevance of Makar Sankranti?
The festival of Makar Sankranti is symbolic of change in the seasons. Astrologically, it brings a symbolic shift in the planetary houses. The Sun marks the transit by moving into Makar Rashi or Capricorn zodiac sign. The Sun moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn during this time of the year. The Sun transits to the twelve zodiac signs every year, and spends one month in each zodiac sign. However, the transit or the Sankranti that happens in January is the most auspicious.
The Indian festivals are based on the Hindu Lunar calendar; however, Makar Sankranti is based on the Solar Calendar. This is why this specific festival is usually celebrated on the same day every year. As mentioned earlier, Makar Sankranti is also the occasion that marks the sacred period of Uttarayana. This period is excellent for attaining 'Mukti' or salvation.
What Are The Rituals Associated with Makar Sankranti?
Let’s get to know the Makar Sankranti rituals that add to the festive spirit of this day.
All the rituals or practices observed during Makar Sankranti offer gratitude to the Sun, as the Sun makes life possible on Earth. The Sun God is worshipped for granting excellent harvest and nurturing livestock. Along with this, the cattle, especially the oxen and bulls, are worshiped for playing a significant role in plowing the fields.
On this day, as the Sun begins its journey towards the North, people celebrate it by taking a holy dip in holy rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Krishna, and by chanting mantras. This is done to wash off all the past sins and purge you. In Northern India, this practice of taking a dip in the water on this specific day holds enormous relevance. Thousands of people crowd at Hindu pilgrimage sites like Haridwar, Allahabad, Banaras, etc., to take a sacred dip in the holy Ganges.
According to the ancient scriptures, it is suggested that one should wake up a little before sunrise and take a bath on this particular day. This ensures that you will have a promising start to the day. After bathing, you should offer Arghya, i.e., pouring water towards the Sun, as well as chant the Gayatri Mantra. Doing this will prove to be beneficial for you.
Kite-flying is of prime importance on this occasion, especially in Gujarat. On this day, the sky is filled with kites.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, donating Gud or jaggery and Til or sesame seeds is considered very auspicious. Jaggery and sesame seeds are exchanged between people and donated to the needy and poor people on this day. Food delicacies made with jaggery and sesame seeds are believed to keep the body warm and provide oil, which becomes a necessity in the cold months of winter as winter dries up the moisture in the body. This is why food delicacies made of jaggery and sesame seeds are exchanged on this occasion. Sweets made of sesame seeds are believed to have 'satvik' elements. It is commonly believed that people who indulge in charitable activities to help the poor and needy on this day will be bestowed with fortune.
The celebration of Makar Sankranti is incomplete without the mention of delectable food. This festival is a time to consume freshly harvested food grains after offering them to the Gods. Ayurveda suggests consuming Khichdi during this time can help your body to prepare itself for the change in season from winter to spring. In Makar Sankranti, women prepare laddoos and other sweets made of Gud and Til. Gajak and Kheer, among other things, are offered to family and friends on this occasion.
Makar Sankranti is an enormous harvest festival celebrated across the nation. Not only do the Hindus residing in India celebrate this occasion, but also the Hindus around the world celebrate this occasion. This festival has different names in different states. The festival has its own pious traditions, customs, and rituals based on the region where it is celebrated. For instance, this occasion is known as Makar Sankranti and Poush Sankranti in Goa, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, and Maghi in Northern India, which Lohri precedes. It is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bhogali Bihu in Assam, and Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh. Below are a few ways Makar Sankranti is celebrated in some parts of India.
In Uttar Pradesh, Khichdi is celebrated on this day. On this occasion, people take a holy bath in the river Ganga. Sesame and Khichdi are donated to the poor. The popular Magh Mela begins on this day at Prayag, Allahabad.
In Gujarat, this festival is famously known as Uttarayana. It lasts for two days. On this occasion, the grains from the new harvest are used for cooking Khichdo and Undhiyu and are savored by all. Kite-flying is another activity done on this day, and many kite-flying competitions are organized in major cities such as Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. Elders giving gifts to the younger family members is also a common practice. The day of Uttarayan is dedicated to God, so it is very auspicious.
In West Bengal, this occasion is observed as Poush Sankranti. The famous Ganga Sagar Mela is organized on this occasion. On this day, an enormous number of people take dips in the holy water in the Ganga Sagar at the point where the River Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. Traditional Bengali sweets containing Patali and Khejurer Gur are the famous delicacies of this festival.
In Tamil Nadu and some other parts of South India, Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal. This incredible occasion marks the worship of the harvest God. The farmers harvest paddy after worshipping Sun God and performing Puja for the Sun God, earth, and sickles. The fresh rice is brought home, and sweets are made up of pulses, rice, milk, and then cooked in ghee, which is then offered to the deity and, after that, everyone. The occasion is celebrated with the hopes that everyone's homes are filled with wealth and prosperity. Undoubtedly, this is one of the biggest festivals in Southern India.
The eve of Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri in Punjab. A huge bonfire is kindled on this occasion, and people perform Puja around the sacred fire by throwing peanuts, popcorn, etc., into it. This is followed by traditional feasts and people celebrating with their near and dear ones.
This occasion holds tremendous importance for all due to Makar Sankranti's immense religious and spiritual significance. This occasion symbolizes a new beginning and fresh start that will allow a new season to brighten up one's life. The occasion enables people to express their gratitude for the prosperity and harmony of the year.
If you want more information about Makar Sankranti 2022 or have any astrology-specific questions, then contact Astroyogi astrologers.
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