Celebrate the departure of winter and the hard-earned harvests of the season on Makar Sankranti with Wedding Affair!
January 14th, 2025 is being celebrated as Makar Sankranti across the Indian subcontinent mainly, in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Makar Sankranti holds a significant importance because of several reasons.
Firstly, the day marks an important move in the zodiac- the arrangement of the planet around the sun. On December 22nd, the winter solstice happens when the tilt of the planet reaches its maximum tilt. However, from the day of Makar Sankranti, the planet begins its movement towards the north (Uttarayana) and winter is being relieved step-by-step. This is the reason why the festival is also celebrated as Uttarayan in some regions of the country.
Secondly, on the day of Makar Sankranti we focus on the importance of Mother Earth in our survival. It is through the soil that we sustain life, be it in the form of the food we eat of the life cycle we have.
The third and most important reason for celebrating Makar Sankranti is because this is that time of the year when the harvest cycle is complete. While farmers and other people rejoice in a successful harvest, they celebrate the festival and give back to the contributors of the fruits– the animals, the tools, and Mother Nature.
Makar Sankranti Rituals
While in the north, the festival is celebrated as Lohri by lighting a bonfire and offering Mother Earth the harvest it has helped produce, in the west it is celebrated as Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti where people engage in kite-flying. In the east, people head to the Ganga Sagar Mela where they take a holy dip in the union of the Ganga river and Bay of Bengal, whereas in the south, people celebrate pongal and honour the sun god, the earth and the animals.
Makar Sankranti Food
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, people usually indulge in decadent feasts depending on different regions of the country. In Maharashtra, people share Tigul Ladoo with each other and exchange the saying, “Tilgul ghya, goad goad bola,” meaning eat Tilgul and talk sweet to each other. In Gujarat, Undhiyu, a mixed-vegetable dish is prepared by large communities. While in Banaras, people prepare khichdi, in Bengal, Patishapta, a sweet crepe is made. Along with this, there are an array of snacks such as peanuts, rewari, gajak, popcorn, pakoda and more that celebrators feast upon while enjoying the festival.
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Team Wedding Affair wishes all a Happy Makar Sankranti. May the love between all of us keep on prospering and our connection with Mother Nature become stronger and more balanced.