16/01/2024
✨Makar Sankranti marks the Sun's transition into Makar Rashi. In Hindi, "Sankranti" means “moving from one place to another" and “Makar” stands for the zodiac sign Capricorn.
It is associated with the winter solstice and celebrates the movement of the sun from the southern to the northern hemisphere, which means that the days are finally getting longer and the cold winter days are almost over.
It is dedicated to the god Surya (the Sun), also known as Surya Deva, who nourishes all living beings on Earth.
Sun, also represents knowledge, wisdom and spirituality. Makar Sankranti is reminding us that we should, like the Sun, start our journey from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge.
Makar Sankranti usually falls on January 14 of every year. But if Makar Sankranti takes place after sunset, as is the case this year, then all Punya Kaal activities (offering food, donations - Dakshina) are postponed to the next day, sunrise.
There are many stories connected with Makar Sankranti. In the story of Bhishma Pitamah from the Mahabharata, Bhishma had the power to choose the time of his death. When he was severely injured in war, he chose to leave his life on Sankranti day because it was believed that dying on that day would grant one instant moksha.
Another legend says that on the day of Makar Sankranti, the gods descend to Earth to take a dip in the holy waters of the river Ganga. Therefore, many devotees go to holy places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Banaras during Sankranti to take a dip in the holy Ganga.
For Makar Sankranti people prepare sweets made of sesame and raw sugar, and give it to each other with the saying: “Eat these sweets and say sweet things.”
