Makar Sankranti 2023 is a special occasion in the culture of India. According to Bengali Almamac on the very last day of the month of Pous this special occasion is observed. It is also mentioned in other almanacs in different names, such as Maghi , Uttarayan or just Sankranti. It is a Hindu ritual that falls on the very date of January 14th every year.
Makar Sankranti 2023 and Sun’s Transition
Maker Sankranti refers to the very transition of the sun from Sagittarius Zodiac sign to Capricorn zodiac sign. As the sun moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern one on this particular date of the Hindu calendar, this particular occasion is totally dedicated to Sun God or Surya Dev. The festival marks as a very new beginning, something new is going to happen. Many festivals are observed to highlight the occasion every corner of India. This year Makar Sankranti 2023 will be observed with same pomp and grandeur.
Makar Sankranti 2023 and Numerous Names
The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are called in various names such as Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi in Punjab, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh. There are other names of the festival too, such as Maghi Uttarain (Uttarayana) in Jammu, Sakrat in the state of Haryana, Sakraat in Rajasthan state, Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Makar Sankranti is known as Uttarayana in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, Dahi Chura in Bihar. Odisha people call it Makar Sankranti in Odisha. The people of West Bengal call it Poush or Makar Sankranti. In Uttar Pradesh Makar Sankranti 2023 is called Khichidi Sankranti, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Not only at home, Makar Sankranti 2023 is observed abroad too. It is called Maghe Sankranti in Nepal, Songkran inThailand and Thingyan in Myanmar, Mohan Songkran in Cambodia.
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On Makar Sankranti, with deep reverence the Sun is worshipped along with Vishnu and Mata Lakshmi throughout India.
The Very Significance of Makar Sankranti 2023
When winter has just passed away and spring has set in with all glamour, in India Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the commencement of harvest season. Every year on January 14th of January the celebration is observed to highlight sun's entry into the Makara zodiac sign known as Capricorn.The day is also regarded very lucky because it is thought to mark the start of the sun's journey towards the Northern Hemisphere better known as Uttarayanam.
Makar Sankranti 2023: Dates Special
The Kite Festival, known as Makar Sankranti, is observed every year on January 14th and 15th .Makar Sankranti is observed to mark the beginning of harvesting. In several parts of India, this special Harvest Festival is observed as a holiday too.
Makar Sankranti 2023: The History Behind
In the Mahabharata and Puranas, the two Hindu scriptures of the Hindus we can find the reference of Makar Sankranti. It is noted that sage Vishvamitra is credited with initiation of the harvesting celebration. In the Mahabharata it is mentioned that the Pandavas who were on exile celebrated Makar Sankranti with deep reverence.
On this particular day worshipping of the goddess Sankranti, the patron deity is observed. According to various Hindu legends, Sankranti defeated demon Sankarasur. The day that follows Makar Sankranti is known as Karidin or Kinkrant. On this very day, Devi killed demon Kinkarasur.
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Makar Sankranti 2023: Relevance
Every year on January 14, with the entry of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn and from Dakshinayan to Uttarayan, this festival is celebrated with different names in the whole of India as well as abroad.
This festival, popularly known as 'Lohri' in Punjab and Jammu-Kashmir, is celebrated by Child Krishna in the joy of killing a demon named 'Lohita'. On this day, Punjabi brothers express their happiness by lighting bonfires and dancing Bhangra around it and offer five things as prasad made of sesame, jaggery, maize, groundnut and Gajak.
India is the only country in the world where some or the other festival is celebrated every day.
India and Her Vibrant Celebrations
Festivals, fairs, have an important place in our Indian culture. India is the very country in the world where various festivals are celebrated every day. It will not be a mere exaggeration if someone says there are galore of festivals. In this country Holi is celebrated every day and Diwali every night.
Actually, these festivals and fairs infuse new energy in our lives and increase mutual love and brotherhood. Makar Sankranti is such a festival of inspiration, moving from darkness to bright light and highlighting the message of unity in diversity.
Different Celebrations of Makar Sankranti 2023 in the country
Every year on January 14, with the entry of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn and from Dakshinayan to Uttarayan, this festival is celebrated with different names in the whole of India as well as in abroad.
In the southern parts of the country, there goes a tradition of celebrating this Makar Sankranti 2023 festival as 'Pongal'. The meaning of 'Pongal' is a boom. It is a 4 day festival celebrated among the Tamil Hindus to manifest their joy of harvesting. The kheer is made on this very day.Tamil families prepare a mixture of rice and milk called 'Pongal'.
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This day is regarded as a day of utmost reverence, total devotion, mantra-chanting, penance, whole hearted offerings and total charity.
Similarly, in Gujarat this festival of Makar Sankranti 2023 is celebrated in the name of 'Utran'. In Maharashtra on this day people visit each other's house and go on feeding laddoos prepared with sesame and jiggery. In Assam, this festival is very popular as 'Magh Bihu'.
On the other hand there goes a tradition of preparing and distributing a highly delicious dish named 'Khichdi'. On this particular day of this festival Magh Mela and Ganga Sagar Mela are celebrated in Prayagraj and Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. There goes a popular belief that taking with rapt devotion the khichdi item in winter; one can have enough new energy in the body.
There are numerous religious reasons behind celebrating the great Hindu festival Makar Sankranti. On this particular day, Ganga came down from heaven, followed Bhagirath and met Kapil Muni’s hermitage near the ocean. On this auspicious day too Bhishma Pitamah, one of the great characters of the great epic the Mahabharata, voluntarily left his body with the journey of the Sun in the ultimate direction of Uttarayan.
Religious Spirit of Makar Sankranti 2023
This day is considered a day of reverence. The spirit of Makar Sankranti for the Hindus is the same as Peepal among all other trees. Though the festival of Makar Sankranti is called by different names in different parts of India and celebrated in various regions of the vast country, the spirit behind it is always the same, Unity in Diversity.
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The special dishes give everyone the message of unity. On the other hand, the kite flying in the cool breeze in the blue sky makes total friendship. It bridges a great unity among all whoever he may be, whatever is the cast and creed. Similarly, no matter how much a person may fly in the sky of luxury and abundance his glory, name and fame with the wind of pride, he should have kept in mind that he is nothing but a son of the soil and everyone around him is none other than his brothers and sisters.
Makar Sankranti 2023 is celebrated with this purpose of total unity in different corners of the country. Immense wealth may be owned by a person, but the string of breath remains in the hands of the Supreme Lord Who is by all means imperishable.
Makar Sankranti reminds the human beings the ultimate truth, however exuberant he may be, he is sure to merge into the soil. So even by forgetting the very fact that the God resides within him, one should not go for committing all sorts of inhuman acts shifting away from his very roots and rituals.
Makar Sankranti 2023: The Preparations
Every year, a month before the Makar Sankranti 2023, the enthusiasm of kite flying is noticed at every corner of the country. Adults forgetting their adulthood go for kite flying with the children and cannot stop themselves from enjoying the mirth of kite flying amid the chilly winter wind.
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With the advent of the Makar Sankranti 2023, the sun starts its journey to the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana). On this very day, the sun enters the Capricorn sign. People bathe in holy water at the Jamuna and Ganga's confluence or dip into any rivers to get the blessings of the God on this very day. This dip in winter in Makar Sankranti 2023 is thought to cleanse the body and the soul. Additionally, people thank and pray to the sun god to provide them with life and vitality.
Why Makar Sankranti So Important
On this very day the prolonged fight for power between the gods and demons came to an end. This day is marked as the inauspiciousness ends and clarity infiltrates in the minds of people. Sankranti, the word when derived, brings out the meaning ‘advancing’ or ‘to start going’. Among the Bengalis there goes the ritual of staying at their particular homes with all kith and kin and dear ones. One should not leave outside one’s own home on this very auspicious day of Makar Sankranti 2023.
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