Makar Sankranti

By tradition, Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14 January — the day the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). From this day, the Sun turns from its southward path (Dakshinayan) to the northward path (Uttarayan). It marks the beginning of a new season.

The Mahabharata's Shanti Parva and Anushasan Parva tell the story of Bhishma Pitamah. After the battle of Kurukshetra, Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows. Countless arrows pierced his body. He had been granted the boon of choosing his own time of death — he could leave whenever he wished. But he waited. He watched for Uttarayan. And according to the Mahabharata, when the Sun entered its northward course, Bhishma Pitamah chose to depart.

The Vishnu Purana describes Uttarayan as the daytime of the gods and Dakshinayan as their night. In this light, Makar Sankranti is the turning point — when the long dark night ends and the bright day begins.

The Bhavishya Purana speaks of the special importance of bathing and charity on this day. According to the Purana, it is a tradition to give sesame seeds, jaggery, blankets, and clothing in charity. Bathing at the banks of the Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, and Godavari rivers is also mentioned in Puranic literature.

This festival is not only a religious occasion — it is also a harvest celebration. By this time, the rabi (winter) crop begins arriving home. Houses fill with fresh grain, sesame, and jaggery. And so, across India, under different names, the festival is celebrated with joy.

In North India it is called Makar Sankranti — khichdi is made, sesame-jaggery sweets are shared. In Punjab and Haryana, the night before brings Lohri — a traditional bonfire festival. People gather, sing folk songs, and pass around peanuts and rewri (sesame brittle). Songs like the beloved Punjabi folk song 'Sunder Mundariye' have been sung on this occasion for generations.

In Maharashtra, sweets made of sesame and jaggery are shared, and people say — 'Til-gul ghya, god god bola' — take this sesame-jaggery and speak sweetly. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the day of Uttarayan is marked by kite-flying — the sky fills with colourful kites. In Tamil Nadu, the four-day festival of Pongal is celebrated, with one day devoted to honouring cows and oxen.

In Assam, this festival is known as Magh Bihu — community feasts and bonfires are its hallmark. In West Bengal and Odisha, bathing at Gangasagar during Paush Sankranti holds special significance. And so, one astronomical event blossoms across India in many different colours and forms of celebration.

The Sun is the source of all light and warmth in creation. The Mahabharata and the Puranas describe the Sun as the very foundation of life. Makar Sankranti celebrates the moment when the Sun begins its journey northward again. In tradition, this has long been seen as a symbol of light's return.

This festival is not just personal — it is communal. The emphasis on charity in the Bhavishya Purana carries a clear message: don't eat the new harvest alone, share it. The exchange of sesame-jaggery, the giving of blankets and clothing — all these express the idea that abundance is only meaningful when it is shared.

Bhishma Pitamah waiting on his bed of arrows for Uttarayan — this is not merely a story. It is a symbol that in the right moment, both life and death become peaceful. For generations, households across India have celebrated this festival with that very feeling.

• The tradition of offering water to Surya Dev at sunrise.
• Donating sesame and jaggery — mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana.
• Giving blankets and clothing in charity — especially to those in need.
• Bathing in rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, and Godavari.
• Khichdi — made from urad dal and rice — both as food and as charitable offering.
• Flying colourful kites in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Lighting a community bonfire on Lohri night in Punjab and Haryana.
• In parts of South India, expressing gratitude to cows by honouring and decorating them.