In the coming days, the festival of Makar Sankranti is to be celebrated across the country. Every year this festival comes on January 14, in which mainly there is a practice of flying kites. Makar Sankranti is the first festival of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated when Sun God enters Capricorn. Makar Sankranti is considered a major festival in Hinduism as there are many legends associated with it. Bathing in holy rivers and doing charity is very important on this day. But do you know that this festival is celebrated in 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 by the name of Paush Sankranti. On this day, there is a tradition of donating sesame after bathing here. A huge fair is held here every year in Gangasagar. It is said that on this day, Ganga ji followed Bhagirath and went to the ocean after going through Kapil Muni's ashram. On this day, a crowd of lakhs of people goes to Gangasagar for bathing.

Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal. This is a festival of four days. 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. The people of South India make dishes of this gin chawk. Like every day, Rangoli is also made on this day which is very beautiful and full of colors.

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 is the symbol of the sun coming in Uttarayan motion. In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated on 14 and 15 January, where 14 January is Uttarayan and 15th Vasi Uttarayan. During these two days, the skies of major cities are seen full of colorful kites. In addition, people enjoy sweets made from Chiku, dry fruits, and sesame seeds.

Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, the Makar Sankranti festival is called the 'festival of charity' or Kicheri. It is believed that Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of good days on earth and auspicious works can be done. There is a tradition of donating after bathing on the day of Sankranti. Fairs are also organized on the Ganga Ghats. It is known by the name of the Khichdi festival in the whole state. Colorful kites are seen fluttering in the sky on this day everywhere in the state.

Punjab
This festival is celebrated a day before in Haryana and Punjab by the name of Lohri. On this day, as soon as it gets dark while worshiping by lighting a fire, they offer sacrifices of roasted maize grains, sesame seeds, jaggery, rice, gajak, and groundnuts. After this, they go around the edge of the oblation and then celebrate happiness by playing Bhangra on the drum. In Prasad, people distribute peanuts, sesame laddoos, gajak, revadis, etc. to each other.

Kerala
In Kerala, it is called Makara Vilakku and people visit it when Makara Jyothi is seen near Sabarimala temple. Whereas in Andhra Pradesh, the festival of Sankranti is of three days. In which people throw away old things and bring new things. Farmers worship their fields, cows, and bullocks and feed them different types of food.

Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, this festival is celebrated by the name Tilgud. This occasion is celebrated for 3 days. It is customary to distribute sesame and jaggery on this. Distributing sesame seeds and jaggery means forgetting the old bitterness and making a new beginning. On this day women distribute sesame seeds, jaggery, roli, and turmeric among themselves.

Assam
Magh Bihu is celebrated which is also known as Bhogali Bihu. It is a harvest festival celebrated in Assam, which is celebrated in the month of Magha i.e. January-February. In this festival, there is a feast for a week. Young people make huts called Meji out of bamboo, leaves, and thatch and sit in it and eat a feast, then these huts are burnt the next morning.