Top 5 Makar Sankranti Celebrations Across India

Makar Sankranti, the first major festival to commemorate the Indian festive calendar every year, is here again. Scientifically, it is the day when the sun enters the northern hemisphere. However, when you attach a religious significance to this natural phenomenon, this day becomes what you call Makar Sankranti in our country. In fact, it is the only Indian festival,  which takes after the solar calendar and celebrated on 14^th January, every year!

Makar Sankranti is also the time, when the fresh crop is harvested and hence, people take it as an opportunity to thank the nature and almighty for fresh beginnings and new energy in the life. Does this fact ring a familiar bell in your mind? You probably guessed it right. Makar Sankranti is our desi tradition of celebrating the Thanksgiving Day!

Makar Sankranti dons various avtaars in the different states of India. We take you through the most popular ones.

Gujarat

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Makar Sankrati in Gujarat is quintessentially about flying kites, the festival popularly known as Uttarayan here. The Gujju folks go completely crazy during the two day festival, so much that they get on their terraces in the wee hours of morning and stay there, till late night flying kites. There will be a spectacular display of kites in myriad hues in the sky and and the shouts of ‘lapet’ and ‘kai po che’ (yes, the phrase also inspired the title of the movie by same name based on Chetam Bhagat’s popular novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life!) will resonate in the air. In fact, Gujarat Kite Flying Festival is one of the most anticipated international festivals. Undhiyu, a spicy mix of seasonable vegetables and til gud chikkis are the special festival recipes savoured on this day.

Assam

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This Eastern region of India welcomes the harvesting season with Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, a two day festival.  On the first day known as Uruka, people go the fields to build toy huts called mejis with thatch. On Uruka night, people in a grand fish and rice based traditional feasting known as Bhogali. These toy huts are burnt on the next day, the ashes of which are then dispersed in the fields, as a symbolism of fertility. Apart from feasting and merry making, what makes the celebrations more fun are the traditional games such as tekeli- bhonga (breaking the pot) and outdoor sports like cock fights and bull fights, played across the state.

Tamil Nadu

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In Tamil Nadu, the Makar Sankranti celebrations lasts for four days in the form of Pongal, making it one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. The first day is Bhogi Pongal, which falls on the 13^th January every year. On this day, people discard old and unwanted items to symbolize the end of vices or poorh habits and usher in the new memories. The second day is the main festival called Surya Pongal, during which people worship the sun, decorate their homes and wear new clothes. On the third day on Mattu Pongal, farmers worship cattle and play / witness jallikattu, a bull taming game. The last day is called Kanum Pongal, when people prepare multi-color rice delicacies and offer them to their ancestors. They also go for sightseeing on this day, so the usual tourists places like Marina Beach in Chennai are choc-a-bloc with visitors on this day. Pongal dish made of rice, milk and cardamoms is savoured across all households during the festival.

Uttar Pradesh

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Here, Makar Sankranti is referred as Khichdi Sankrant because khichdi is offered to poor people. You will often hear the residents saying that it’s the day of snan, daan and khichdi. The khichdil platter consists of the main dish, papad, ghee, a til gud sweet, chutney and curd. On this day, devotees also prefer to take dip in the Holy River Ganges. Fun fairs are organized throughout the state and people take part in rituals called ‘ghughutia’ and ‘kaalekauva’. In KaaleKauva, children display sweets prepared in different shapes and strung together like a necklace to attract crows and other birds.

Punjab

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Sunder mundriye ho! Dulla Bhatti walla! Those who have a penchant for Punjabi music would know that Lohri festivities are incomplete without singing and dancing to the tunes of these two popular songs. Lohri, as the Makar Sankranti is called in Punjab, is all about the typical Punjabi fare – dhols, giddas, bhangra, bonfire, dance and feast, amids all pomp and fervour. The day following Lohri signifies the start of a new month called Magh, and hence celebrated as Maghi by offering kheer or any other sweet dish with sugar cane juice.

Different regions, different traditions. How do you celebrate Makar Sankranti in your home?