Makar Sankranti 2023 Live Updates: Hello and welcome to ABP Live for all the updates from the joyous festival of Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Maghi, and Poush Sankranti. Over the period of two days, follow this blog to get the latest happenings in and around India where the festivities are.
Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated in India to mark the beginning of the sun’s journey into the northern hemisphere, known as the Makar (Capricorn) rashi (sun sign). It is typically celebrated on January 14 and is considered an auspicious day for religious rituals and offerings to the gods. The festival is also celebrated as a harvest festival and is an important festival for farmers as it marks the end of the winter solstice and the start of the new farming season. It is also known by different names such as Maghi in Haryana, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Poush Sankranti in West Bengal.
One of the most popular ways of celebrating Makar Sankranti is by taking a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Shipra, as it is believed that the dip in these rivers on Makar Sankranti washes away one’s sins and purifies the soul.
In Gujarat, people light up their homes and fly kites to celebrate the festival. In Maharashtra, people exchange sweets made of sesame and jaggery and participate in a traditional bullock cart race. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the festival is called Sankranti and is celebrated with special food, games, and cultural events.
In Nepal, Makar Sankranti is known as Maghi and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. People take a dip in holy rivers, offer prayers to the sun and the gods, and exchange sweets and greetings.
In short, Makar Sankranti is a festival of many customs, rituals and traditions across India. It is a festival that marks the end of the winter solstice, the start of a new farming season and an opportunity for people to purify their souls, and bond with their loved ones.
