Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated in India and Nepal.
Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated in India and Nepal. The name literally means “the passage of the sun into the zodiacal sign of Capricorn”, as it marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. Makar Sankranti is also known as Pongal, which means “to boil over” and refers to a ritual performed during the festival. Makar Sankranti is typically observed on January 14th, but can vary by region depending on when it falls.
What does Makar Sankranti mean?
The term Makar Sankranti comes from Sanskrit and translates to “the passage of the sun into Capricorn”. This is because Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere, as well as being an important harvest festival for Hindus. The word “sankranti” literally means “transition” or “passage”, while “makara” refers to Capricorn, one of 12 signs of the zodiac.
When is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
“Makara Chaturdashi” or simply “Chaturdashi” is one day before Makara Sankranthi, i.e., January 13 (Gregorian calendar). On this day people take bath early morning after doing pooja at home with kusha grass, flowers etc., then visit their friends’ house for exchanging sweets (Til Laddoo) and gifts like clothes etc., along with best wishes for each other’s prosperity.
