How Makar Sankranti Is Celebrated All Across India
India is known for its diversity, its colours its rich traditions. Third day of this festival is known as Maattu Pongalâ€. The festival is dedicated to the deity Surya (Lord Sun) and it marks the first day of the sun's transit into Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days and symbolizes the arrival of spring.
7. Scientifically however, the day for winter solstice in Northern Hemisphere falls between 21st and 22nd That is, on 22nd December the sun starts its northward journey with days becoming longer than nights. The festival of Makar Sankranti marks the day when the sun begins its northward journey and enters the sign of Makar (the Capricorn) from the Tropic of Cancer.
Goa: Known as Sankrant, people distribute sweets made of til and married women celebrate the 12-day Haldi Kumkum festival that begins on Makar Sankranti. People in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana observe the festival for three days, with each day more significant than the next and devoted to different traditions.
The regions to the south of Saryu River, i.e. the Kumaon region celebrate the festival on the first day of Maagh month, i.e. on Makar Sankranti. Makara Sankranti Hindu festival is one of the most propitious festivals, exclusive to the deity Surya (sun). Praying to the sun and the use of black Pongal celebrations sesame (til) and jaggery are also integral parts of the festival.
Each Sankranti is marked as the beginning of a month in the sidereal solar calendars followed in Andhra Pradesh , Telangana , Karnataka , Kerala , Maharashtra , Gujarat , Punjab , Odisha and Nepal On the other hand, in the sidereal solar Bengali calendar and Assamese calendar , a Sankranti is marked as the end of each month and the day following as the beginning of a new month.
The harvest festival is known as Pongal and lasts for three days. 2. It is being said that 2015 onwards, this festival will be celebrated on 15th of January each year. Til ke Laddu: Simple sweet dish prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery syrup, peanuts and desiccated coconut.