The Festival of Makar Sankranti 2024 in India

Makar Sankranti is a special occasion celebrated in India to mark the beginning of the harvest season as the winter subsides and spring starts to bloom.  The festival is celebrated on January 14 every year and marks the sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). The day is also believed to mark the beginning of the sun’s journey towards the Northern Hemisphere (Uttarayanam) and is thus considered auspicious.

Makar Sankranti 2024 Date

Makar Sankranti, also known as the Kite Festival, is celebrated on the 14th/15th of January every year. Makar Sankranti 2024 will be celebrated on January 15 to mark the harvest season. The festival of Harvest is a public holiday in many parts of India. All banks will remain closed on this day. However, many organisations and educational institutions continue to operate normally.

Importance of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s journey northwards (Uttarayana). The sun enters the Capricorn sign (Makara Rasi) on this day. On this day, people take a holy dip at the confluence of Ganga and Jamuna. This is believed to purify the body and soul. People also pray to the sun god and offer gratitude for giving them life and energy.

Furthermore, On this day, people fly kites, enjoy the cool breeze, and make sweets out of sesame seeds.

How do Hindus Observe Makar Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti, also known as the “festival of the Sun”, is observed by Hindus worldwide. Hindus celebrate Makar Sankranti by taking a holy dip in the river Ganges, offering prayers and chanting mantras to the Sun God. Devotees chant mantras to offer gratitude to the gods for a bountiful harvest. People from different states in India observe Makar Sankranti differently:

In Uttar Pradesh, this day is considered very auspicious for taking a dip in holy rivers. Ritual bathing is performed in Haridwar, GarhMukteshwar, and Patna as well. During this time, Prayag holds its annual Maha-Mela fair.

In West Bengal, pilgrims  from around the country come together to worship and visit the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is believed that the ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath have been revived by the river Ganga.

Tamil Nadu celebrates the festival to thank the Sun God for the bountiful harvests. Following the ritual worship, grains of rice and lentils are cooked in clarified butter and offered to the gods.

While in Andhra Pradesh, the festival is considered very auspicious and is celebrated for four days. Bhogi, Sankranti, Kanuma and Mukkanuma are the festival’s four days.

Conversely, in Kerala, a grand celebration is held in Sabarimala on this day to conclude the 40-day Anushthana by worshippers of Ayyappa.

In Punjab, Lohari is one of the most important festivals in the state, as it marks the beginning of the agricultural season. The festival is celebrated by lighting bonfires, singing folk songs and dancing around the fire. Lohari also has a special significance for married couples as it is believed to bring them good luck and prosperity.

History of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti has been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures, including the Mahabharata and the Puranas. It is believed to have been first celebrated by the Vedic sage Vishvamitra. In the Mahabharata, it is mentioned that the Pandavas observed Makar Sankranti during their exile.

The festival’s patron deity, goddess Sankranti is worshipped on this day. Sankranti, according to Hindu mythology, defeated the demon Sankarasur. Karidin, also known as Kinkrant, is the day after Makar Sankranti. Devi defeated the demon Kinkarasur on this day.

List of Sankranti Dates for the Next Five Years

Markar Sankranti is an important Hindu festival celebrated all over India.

The date of the festival varies depending on the lunar cycle, but it typically falls in January. Here are the dates of Sankranti over the next five years: