How Sankranti is celebrated 2024?
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Zoe Brown
Studied at the University of British Columbia, Lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Hello there! As an expert in cultural studies, I'm excited to delve into the rich tapestry of traditions that make up the celebration of Makar Sankranti. This festival is a significant event in the Hindu calendar, marking the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which signifies the arrival of spring and longer days. It's celebrated with great enthusiasm and variety across different regions of India and Nepal, with each region adding its unique customs and practices to the celebrations.
Makar Sankranti is not just a one-day event but a series of festivities that can span several days. Here's a detailed look at how it's celebrated:
### Preparations:
Before the festival, households are thoroughly cleaned and decorated. People often paint the floors with colorful rangoli designs, which are intricate patterns made from colored rice, flowers, or sand. These designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve to welcome the deity into the home.
### Cultural Significance:
The festival holds a deep cultural and agricultural significance. It's a time to honor the sun god, Surya, for his life-giving energy and to celebrate the harvest season. The transition of the sun into Capricorn marks the end of the winter solstice and the gradual increase in daylight, which is a cause for celebration.
### Rituals and Customs:
1. Bathing in Holy Waters: Many people take a holy dip in rivers, such as the Ganges, to cleanse themselves of sins and to gain spiritual merit. This is believed to bring good health and prosperity.
2. Flying Kites: In some regions, especially in Gujarat, the festival is synonymous with kite flying. The sky is filled with a flurry of colors as people engage in friendly kite-flying competitions.
3. Agricultural Celebrations: In rural areas, farmers celebrate the harvest and pray for a good yield in the coming season. This is a time of community gatherings where farmers share their produce and celebrate their hard work.
4. Food and Feasting: Traditional foods are prepared and shared among family and friends. In many parts of India, sweet dishes made from sesame seeds, jaggery, and rice are popular.
Khichdi, a dish made from rice and lentils, is also commonly prepared as it's believed to bring prosperity.
5. Charitable Giving: The festival is also a time for giving and sharing. People often donate food, clothes, and other essentials to the less fortunate.
6. Social Gatherings: Families and communities come together to celebrate with music, dance, and various cultural performances.
### Regional Variations:
- Bihar and Jharkhand: As you mentioned, in Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated on 14-15 January. It's known as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi in local dialects. People take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest.
- Rajasthan: Here, the festival is known as Magh Bihu and is celebrated with a traditional dance called Gerua. People wear red and yellow clothes and apply gerua (red-colored powder) on each other.
- Gujarat: Uttarayan is the name given to the festival in this region. It's famous for its kite flying and the preparation of Undhiyu, a traditional Gujarati dish.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: The festival is known as Bogada Dhana, where people make sugarcane sticks and fly kites.
- Karnataka: Known as Makar Sankramana, the festival is celebrated with a ritual called Hebbe Hannakalu, which involves eating a variety of sweet dishes.
### Conclusion:
Makar Sankranti is a vibrant and joyous occasion that brings communities together in a spirit of unity and gratitude. It's a time to celebrate the changing seasons, the bounty of the harvest, and the warmth of the sun's rays. Each region's unique customs and practices add to the richness of this festival, making it a truly diverse and colorful celebration.
Makar Sankranti is not just a one-day event but a series of festivities that can span several days. Here's a detailed look at how it's celebrated:
### Preparations:
Before the festival, households are thoroughly cleaned and decorated. People often paint the floors with colorful rangoli designs, which are intricate patterns made from colored rice, flowers, or sand. These designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve to welcome the deity into the home.
### Cultural Significance:
The festival holds a deep cultural and agricultural significance. It's a time to honor the sun god, Surya, for his life-giving energy and to celebrate the harvest season. The transition of the sun into Capricorn marks the end of the winter solstice and the gradual increase in daylight, which is a cause for celebration.
### Rituals and Customs:
1. Bathing in Holy Waters: Many people take a holy dip in rivers, such as the Ganges, to cleanse themselves of sins and to gain spiritual merit. This is believed to bring good health and prosperity.
2. Flying Kites: In some regions, especially in Gujarat, the festival is synonymous with kite flying. The sky is filled with a flurry of colors as people engage in friendly kite-flying competitions.
3. Agricultural Celebrations: In rural areas, farmers celebrate the harvest and pray for a good yield in the coming season. This is a time of community gatherings where farmers share their produce and celebrate their hard work.
4. Food and Feasting: Traditional foods are prepared and shared among family and friends. In many parts of India, sweet dishes made from sesame seeds, jaggery, and rice are popular.
Khichdi, a dish made from rice and lentils, is also commonly prepared as it's believed to bring prosperity.
5. Charitable Giving: The festival is also a time for giving and sharing. People often donate food, clothes, and other essentials to the less fortunate.
6. Social Gatherings: Families and communities come together to celebrate with music, dance, and various cultural performances.
### Regional Variations:
- Bihar and Jharkhand: As you mentioned, in Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated on 14-15 January. It's known as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi in local dialects. People take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest.
- Rajasthan: Here, the festival is known as Magh Bihu and is celebrated with a traditional dance called Gerua. People wear red and yellow clothes and apply gerua (red-colored powder) on each other.
- Gujarat: Uttarayan is the name given to the festival in this region. It's famous for its kite flying and the preparation of Undhiyu, a traditional Gujarati dish.
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: The festival is known as Bogada Dhana, where people make sugarcane sticks and fly kites.
- Karnataka: Known as Makar Sankramana, the festival is celebrated with a ritual called Hebbe Hannakalu, which involves eating a variety of sweet dishes.
### Conclusion:
Makar Sankranti is a vibrant and joyous occasion that brings communities together in a spirit of unity and gratitude. It's a time to celebrate the changing seasons, the bounty of the harvest, and the warmth of the sun's rays. Each region's unique customs and practices add to the richness of this festival, making it a truly diverse and colorful celebration.
2024-06-16 13:25:29
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Works at the Red Cross, Lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
In Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated on 14-C15 January. On 14 January, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi (in local dialects). As in other parts of country, people take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest.
2023-06-19 03:57:56
Ethan Henderson
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
In Bihar and Jharkhand, the festival is celebrated on 14-C15 January. On 14 January, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Sakraat or Khichdi (in local dialects). As in other parts of country, people take baths in rivers and ponds and feast upon seasonal delicacies as a celebration of good harvest.
