Makar Sankranti 2022: Date, time and Rituals

Makar Sankranti 2022: Date, time and Rituals
Makar Sankranti 2022: This year, the festival will be celebrated on January 14.
Nakshatra: Rohini
Here are some of the key rituals of the Makar Sankranti festival, have a look.
Makar Sankranti 2022: According to the Gregorian calendar, Makar Sankranti is the first major Hindu festival celebrated with much fervor across several parts of India. The day marks the beginning of a new harvest season and the end of the winter season. However, the cultural significance of Makar Sankranti varies geographically, it is celebrated with different names in different states but enthusiasm remains the same.
Makar Sankranti date remains the same almost every year because it is determined as per the solar calendar. On this day, people express gratitude to the Sun God Surya and thank nature for its abundant resources. In most parts of the country, people, take a holy dip in sacred rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery. It is believed that doing so, washes away all the sins.
Apart from it, Makar Sankranti is also considered a time of peace and prosperity, and many spiritual practices are conducted on this day. The festival marks the annual transit of the Sun from Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makar (Capricorn) in the Hindu month of Pausha.
Makar Sankranti 2022: Date
Makar Sankranti is generally observed on a day which usually falls on 14 January of the Gregorian calendar, but sometimes it falls on 15 January. This year, the festival will be celebrated on January 14.
Makar Sankranti 2022: Rituals
Different rituals are practiced in different states of India. Some of the key rituals of the Makar Sankranti festival are given below.
• In Uttar Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is mainly the festival of ‘Donation’. On this auspicious day, people take a holy dip in the Ganges. The Magh Mela, which continues for one month starts from the day of Makar Sankranti only.
• In Haryana and Punjab, the local people light bonfires and perform puja around the sacred fire by offering puffed rice and sweet into the flames.
• In Gujarat, kite flying is of prime importance on that day. Makar Sankranti is referred to as Uttarayan in Ahmedabad. Other holy rituals like giving gifts to younger members of the family are also a common practice.
• In Bengal, Makar Sankranti is known as Poush Parbon’. There is a tradition of donating til after taking bath in Makar Sankrant. People make pithas’ or sweets made of rice flour, coconut, milk, and palm jaggery. A huge fair is also organised every year in Gangasagar.
• In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is usually celebrated for three days. People exchange multi-colored halwa, puran poli, and til-gul laddoo and greet each other with good wishes. Married women invite friends/family members and celebrate Haldi-Kunku.In Guwahati, Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the form of Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu to mark the end of harvesting season in the Magha month.
• The occasion of Makar Sankranti in Tamil Nadu is celebrated as Pongal for four days.
The tradition of celebrating Makar Sankranti may differ, but the essence of the festival remains the same. People on this day get together to fly kites– it is one of the most prominent features of Makar Sankranti.

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