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- Makar Sankranti, Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition, Makar Sankranti marks the movement of the sun into Capricorn. A Hindu festival celebrating the winter solstice and the transition to springtime, as well as the harvest.
- This festival is celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan. There are variations of this festival across India and around Asia. The festival is called by varied names such as in West Bengal & North East Pousha Sankranti,
- In Tamil Nadu Thai Pongal, in Kerala Makara Vilakku , in Assam and North East Magh Bihu, in Gujarat Vasi Uttarayan, in Punjab Maghi, in Nepal Maaghe Sankrant , in Thailand Songkran , in Cambodia Mohan Songkran.
- This festival is celebrated in honour of Surya (the Sun God) to pay tribute to the grace of his energy that has enabled life and food on earth.
- As it is the harvest festival, it is a time of joy, abundance, and celebration in the farming communities, the time when they reap the fruits of their hard labour.
- It is also a time for peace when families bury the hatchet and get together.
- Significance of flying kite during Makara Sankranti
- According to some beliefs, people fly kites on Makar Sankranti in order to be exposed to the sun rays. This way people can get rid of skin infections and illnesses that are associated with winter.
- Significance of celebrating cows during Makara Sankranti
- According to a legend linked to Mattu Pongal, the god Shiva sent his bull Nandi (mount of Shiva and his gate keeper) from heaven to the earth to give his message to people that they should have an oil bath every day and eat once a month. Instead, Nandi wrongly advised people to take an oil bath once a month and eat every day. Shiva was annoyed with this advice related to food and in fit of rage, banished Nandi to permanently live on earth and help the farmers to produce the extra food crops needed for people to eat every day.
