In the coming days, the festival of Makar Sankranti is to be celebrated across the country. Every year this festival falls on 14th January in which kite flying is the main tradition. According to the Gregorian calendar, Makar Sankranti is the first festival of the year. The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated when the Sun God enters Capricorn. Makar Sankranti is considered a big festival in the Hindu religion because there are many stories associated with it. Bathing in holy rivers and doing charity has great importance on this day. But do you know that this festival is celebrated with different names and ways in every part of the country? Today in this episode we are going to give you information related to this.
Bengal
In Bengal, this festival is celebrated as Paush Sankranti. There is a tradition of donating sesame seeds after taking a bath here on this day. A huge fair is held here every year in Gangasagar. It is said that on this very day, Ganga ji followed Bhagiratha and reached the ocean through Kapil Muni's ashram. On this day, lakhs of people go to Gangasagar to take a bath.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal. This is a four-day festival. In which the first day is celebrated as Bhogi-Pongal, the second day as Surya-Pongal, the third day as Mattu-Pongal, and the fourth day as Kanya-Pongal. People of South India prepare dishes from this Jin Chawak. Like every day, Rangoli is made on this day too which is very beautiful and full of colours.
Gujarat
Gujarati people wait for this festival to fly kites. It is called Uttarayan or Uttaran in Gujarati and lasts for two days. This name symbolizes the Sun coming into Uttarayan motion. In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated on 14 and 15 January, where 14 January is Uttarayan and 15th is Vasi Uttarayan. During these two days, the skies of major cities are filled with colorful kites. Apart from this, people enjoy sweets made from sapota, dry fruits, and sesame seeds.
Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, the festival of Makar Sankranti is called the 'festival of charity' or Kicheri. It is believed that with Makar Sankranti, good days begin on earth and auspicious works can be done. There is a tradition of giving donations after bathing on the day of Sankranti. Fairs are also organized on the Ganga ghats. It is known as the Khichdi festival in the entire state. On this day, colorful kites are seen flying in the sky everywhere in the state.
Punjab
This festival is celebrated a day earlier in Haryana and Punjab by the name of Lohri. On this day, as soon as it gets dark, people light a fire and worship and offer roasted corn grains, sesame seeds, jaggery, rice, gajak, and peanuts. After this, they take rounds around the altar and then celebrate by playing Bhangra on drums. In Prashad, people distribute peanuts, sesame laddus, gajak revadis, etc. to each other.
Kerala
In Kerala, it is called Makar Vilakku and people visit it when Makar Jyoti is seen near the Sabarimala temple. Whereas in Andhra Pradesh, the festival of Sankranti is of Tiv day. In which people throw away old things and bring new things. Farmers worship their fields, cows, and bulls and offer them various types of food.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, this festival is celebrated with the name Tilgud. This occasion is celebrated for 3 days. There is a tradition of distributing sesame and jaggery on this. Distributing sesame and jaggery means forgetting old bitterness and making a new beginning. On this day women distribute sesame, jaggery, roli, and turmeric among themselves.
Assam
Magh Bihu is celebrated which is also known as Bhogali Bihu. This is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, which is celebrated in the month of Magh i.e. January-February. This festival involves feasting for a week. Young people build huts called Meji from bamboo, leaves, and thatch and sit in them and eat a feast, then these huts are burnt the next morning.
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