Why Makar Sankranti is celebrated–This is the common question.

Look Outside…It’s so pleasant…Sun is smiling for you…Trees are dancing for you…Birds are singing for you…Because I asked them to wish you.

…. Happy Makar Sankranti.

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1. What is Makar Sankranti:

Bajare ki roti, nimbu ka achar, suraj ki kirne, chand ki chandani aur apno ka pyaar. Mithi Boli, Mithi Juban, Makar Sankrant Ka Yahi Hai Paigam.

Makar Sankranti marks the end of Malmaas, an inauspicious month in the Hindu (Panchang) calendar, and the transition of the Sun to the zodiacal sign of Makar (Capricorn) to herald a change in season.

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2. When is Makar Sankranti in 2019?

Sankranti or Uttarayana Punya-kal on 15th, January 2019

Punya Kaal Muhurat  is from 07:18 to 12:47 pm

Duration is 5 hours 29 minutes.
Sankranti Moment is at 08:05 pm.

Mahapunya Kaal Muhurat is at 07:18 to 09:08.

Duration is 1 hour 49 minutes.

The Uttarayana Punya-Kal or Uttarayana Punyakalam -holy bath begins with the transit of Sun in Capricorn -Makar Rashi.

As per Muhurat Chintamani in Vedic astrology 16 minutes before the entry of Sun in any sign and 16 minutes after the Sun’s entry in any zodiac sign is called Punya Kal of Sankranti.

If Sun enters into a sign before midnight then the second half of the last day is Punya Kal.

When Sun enters into a sign after mid night then the first half of the next day will be  considered punya kal.

If it enters exactly at midnight in a zodiac sign then the previous day, as well as the next day, will be considered Punya Kal.

If Sun enters into another sign after sunset then Punya Kal considered will be the next day only.

According to Padma Purana, we have to give a donation.

You can donate red clothes, wheat, jaggery, copper vessel, red flowering coconut on this day.

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3. Story Behind Makar Sankranti

On Makar Sankranti day, Lord Sun meets his son Lord Shani and Lord Shani was ruling Makar Rashi.

Hence on Makar Sankranti, bitter past is forgotten and a new beginning is started.

According to Mahabharata, wounded Bhishma Pitamaha chose this day to leave his body on Makar Sankranti as he can get heavenly home.

So from then, it is believed that whoever dies on Makar Sankranti will get at Nirvana.

On Makar Sankranti day, King Bhagirath brought Holy Ganga River to earth and liberated souls of King Sagar’s  so many sons.

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4. Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

Makar Sankranti is observed to celebrate the transition of the sun into the zodiac house of Capricorn.

The Hindi version of Capricorn is “Makara”. Hence this day is known as “Makar Sankranti”. Sun God is worshiped in many places.

Sankranti is a harvest festival and celebrated all over in  India.

Sankranti is derived from the word ‘Sankramana’, meaning a ‘change’.

It is usually 14th January every year.

This journey is called ‘Uttarayana’, meaning northward march. 

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5. Significance of Makar Sankranti:

Festival Makar Sankranti 2019 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 15th January 2019. The first Shahi Snan of Kumbha Mela 2019 will be on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti.

 Makar Sankranti festival is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya and when Sun shifted from dating to Makar Rashi or dakshinayan to uttarayan.

Sankranti means the sun passing from one zodiac to the other one.

Most of the Hindu festivals celebrated as per moon position but this festival celebrated on the basis of Sun.

Therefore no fixed date declared as per Hindu Panchang.

• The festival of Makar Sankranti is very important because it refers to the transition of the sun into the zodiac house of Capricorn.
• Makar Sankranti promotes a feeling of a sense of unity among peoples.

Sankranti promotes a feeling of a sense of unity among peoples.

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6. Rituals and customs in the states of India:

This auspicious festival is observed in different name with minor differences in

• Tamil Nadu– Pongal 
• Kerala– End of Sabarimala Pilgrimage
• Allahabad– Khumba Mela
• Gujarat and Rajasthan– Uttarayan
• Assam– Bohali Bihu
• Karnataka– Sankranthi
• Orissa– Makar Mela
• Bengal– Ganga Sagar Mela and Pithey Parban

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7. Sankranti Recipes- SWEET DELICACIES OF THIS SEASON–

Til Laddoos Til Chikkis -Gujarati delicacy

 Kurmure Chikki -Maharashtrian special. Combination of puffed rice and jaggery

 Puli Pitha -Bengali specialty

 Rewari – Punjab specialty

Til Pitha – Assamese pancake

 Gulachi Poli -Maharashtrian flatbread

 Makara Chaula -Oriya-speciality

 Crushed peanut laddoo Pinni – North Indian specialty

Sakkarai Pongal -Tamil Nadu specialty, etc are some of the traditional sweetmeats savored during this rich harvest season.

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8. How To Celebrate:

Kite Flying-

Kite flying is one of the most popular sports and festivals in India and Uttarayan is regarded as one of the biggest festivals in Gujarat.

Holy Dip-

The day of Makar Sankranti is the first of the big and holy bathing days of Hindu’s and takes place at sacred places for holy bathing such as Allahabad and Varanasi, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik.

Fairs-

Melas or fairs are held around the country of India on Makara Sankranti, one of the most famous being the Kumbha Mela, the Gangasagar Mela and Makara Mela in Odisha.

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 May This Makar Sankranti Brings you 
 New Hopes And Good Harvest For You!
Fill Your Life With Sweetness!
May The Sun Radiate 
Peace, Prosperity, And Happiness
In Your Life On Makar Sankranti And Always!

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9. Conclusion:

Its time to enjoy the first festival of the year and give love to others.

Wishing you the greetings of a prosperous, delightful and auspicious, life wishes festival.

Wishing You A Happy Makar Sankranti.

You can read here also-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankranti#:~:targetText=Makara%20Sankranti%20or%20Maghi%2C%20is,the%20start%20of%20longer%20days.

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