makar sankranti festival is celebrated in which state
Makar Sankranti Festival: Celebrated Across Which Indian States?
Answer:
Makar Sankranti is a significant festival celebrated across various states in India, marking the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara in Sanskrit). This transition, known as the winter solstice, signifies the end of the month with the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. Here is a detailed look at how Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different Indian states:
1. Punjab: Lohri
In Punjab, Makar Sankranti is celebrated a day before as Lohri. This festival is associated with harvesting rabi crops like sugarcane. People light bonfires, dance the bhangra, and enjoy festive foods like makki di roti and sarson da saag. Lohri is also celebrated as a commemoration of the last of the coldest days of winter.
2. Gujarat: Uttarayan
In Gujarat, the festival is known as Uttarayan, a major event where people engage in kite flying. The sky is filled with vibrant kites of all shapes and sizes. Families and friends gather on rooftops and open fields to participate in the statewide festival. Traditional foods prepared during this time include undhiyu and chikki.
3. Maharashtra: Makar Sankranti
In Maharashtra, the festival is marked by the exchange of sweets and greetings. People distribute tilgul or laddoos made of sesame seeds and jaggery, wishing “Tilgul ghya ani goad goad bola” meaning “Take sweet, talk sweet.” It’s a symbol of sharing and spreading positivity and sweetness in relationships.
4. Karnataka: Suggi Habba
In Karnataka, this harvest festival is known as Suggi Habba. It’s a time for farmers to celebrate the harvest. The festival is characterized by various activities including kite flying and elaborate preparations of sweets like ellu-bella, a mixture of sesame seeds, coconut, roasted peanuts, and jaggery.
5. Tamil Nadu: Pongal
In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is part of the four-day-long Pongal festival. Named after a sweet rice dish called Pongal, this festival is a thanksgiving to nature for a good harvest. The event includes boiling the first rice of the season, which is offered to the Sun God, and people decorate their homes with kolams (rangoli).
6. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Pedda Panduga
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it’s called Pedda Panduga, which translates to “The Big Festival.” The celebrations are similar to those in Tamil Nadu, with families cooking Pongal dishes and drawing rangoli (muggu) outside their homes.
7. Uttar Pradesh: Khichdi
In Uttar Pradesh, the festival is known as Khichdi. People take holy baths in rivers and offer ritualistic prayers followed by a donation of khichdi, a dish made from rice and lentils. Major celebrations occur at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj.
8. West Bengal: Poush Sankranti
In West Bengal, the festival is termed Poush Sankranti, named after the Bengali month during which it is celebrated. It coincides with the Ganga Sagar Mela, one of the largest fairs where pilgrims take a holy dip and offer rituals. The traditional sweets include pithas made from date palm jaggery.
9. Bihar and Jharkhand: Sakraat
In these states, it is called Sakraat or Khichdi. People participate in community feasts and prepare dishes made of til (sesame) and gud (jaggery), alongside khichdi. Traditional games and kite flying are also a hallmark of the celebration.
10. Odisha: Makara Sankranti
In Odisha, the festival is celebrated as Makara Sankranti, marked by rituals and making of Makara chaula (a dish made with newly harvested rice, jaggery, banana, chhena, and coconut). Special delicacies include varieties of pithas, a type of rice cake.
11. Assam: Magh Bihu
In Assam, the festival is known as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, celebrating the end of the harvest season. Bonfires known as meji are central to this festival. Community feasts, dances, and traditional Assamese food like pitha and laru are integral to the celebration.
12. Kerala: Makara Vilakku Festival
In Kerala, particularly at the Sabarimala Temple, the Makara Vilakku festival is celebrated with great fervor. It marks the celestial event witnessed by the sighting of a star and the lighting of a divine flame at the temple, drawing thousands of devotees.
13. Himachal Pradesh: Magha Saaji
In Himachal Pradesh, it’s celebrated as Magha Saaji, marking the commencement of spring and the rising temperatures after the harsh winter. People enjoy ceremonial baths, fairs, and distribute sweets.
Summary
Makar Sankranti, a festival dedicated to the Sun God, is celebrated with diverse traditions and names across different states in India, reflecting the country’s rich cultural tapestry. From kite flying to exchanging sweets and performing rituals, Makar Sankranti brings joy and community spirit, marking it as a major pan-Indian festival.
This inclusive festival not only emphasizes the agricultural background of the country but also highlights the cultural uniqueness and unity in diversity that India embodies. Each state, while celebrating in its unique style, retains the core essence of gratitude and joy for the harvest season.