Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is an important festival of the Hindu religion, which is celebrated every year in January. On this day, the Sun God comes out of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. This event is considered the beginning of Uttarayan, which is an auspicious occasion. Because at this time the sunlight falls directly on the Northern Hemisphere.

In Indian culture, many religious and cultural programs are organized on the occasion of Sankranti. The most important of these is Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated in the month of Magh.

Importance of Makar Sankranti

• Beginning of Uttarayan: From the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun God starts moving towards the northern hemisphere. During this period the days become longer and the nights become shorter. Uttarayan is considered auspicious in Hinduism, as it symbolizes positive life changes.
• Surya Puja: Sun God is worshipped on the day of Makar Sankranti. In Hindu religion, the Sun God is considered the source of life. Worshiping Surya brings respect, wealth and health.
• Donation: Donating on the day of Makar Sankranti has special significance. Donating jaggery, food grains, clothes, black sesame, khichdi etc. on this day brings virtue.

Beliefs of Makar Sankranti

• Defects in the horoscope are removed: It is believed that on the day of Makar Sankranti, taking a bath by mixing black sesame seeds and Ganga water in water removes the planetary defects in the horoscope.
• The blessings of the Sun and Saturn are received: On the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun God enters the zodiac sign of his son Saturn, Capricorn. On this day one gets the blessings of both Sun and Saturn.
• One gets respect, wealth and health: Worshiping Surya on Makar Sankranti gives respect, wealth and health.
• Salvation is attained: By donating jaggery, food, clothes, black sesame, khichdi etc. on the day of Makar Sankranti one attains salvation.

Activities to be done on the day of Makar Sankranti

• Bathing in holy rivers: Bathing in holy rivers on the day of Makar Sankranti has special significance. On this day, bathing is done in rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Narmada etc.
• Surya Puja: Sun God is worshipped on the day of Makar Sankranti. On this day, special worship is done in Sun temples.
• Donation: Donating on the day of Makar Sankranti has special significance. On this day, jaggery, food, clothes, black sesame, khichdi etc. are donated.
• Food and drink: Special dishes are prepared on the day of Makar Sankranti. Khichdi, sesame laddus, jaggery laddus etc. are consumed on this day.

Makar Sankranti: The gates of heaven open

This is because the Sun God starts moving from the southern to the northern hemisphere from this day. This begins the day of the gods. According to religious beliefs, doing charity on the day of Makar Sankranti brings special virtue. Donation made on this day opens the way to heaven. Therefore, on this day people give special importance to bathing in holy rivers, worshipping Sun God and donating.

Bhishma Pitamah had chosen today

Doing charity on the day of Makar Sankranti has special significance. Donation made on this day leads to virtue and paves the way to attain salvation.

During the Mahabharata period, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen Makar Sankranti to leave his body. It is said in Geeta that the person who sacrifices his body in Shukla Paksha of Uttarayan gets salvation.

With Makar Sankranti, the Sun God becomes Uttarayan, hence this day is considered auspicious. On this day, people give special importance to bathing in holy rivers, worshipping the Sun God and donating.

Makar Sankranti: Agreement between Sun and Saturn

On the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun God enters Capricorn, the house of his son Shani. This day is also seen as the agreement between Sun and Saturn. According to mythology, Sun God was suffering from leprosy. His son Shani did penance to cure this disease. But the Sun God got angry and burnt the Kumbh, the house of Shani. Due to this Shani and his mother Chhaya had to suffer. Seeing Shani’s sorrow, Yamraj requested Sun God. The Sun God gave the boon of filling Shani’s house with wealth and grains. Shani Dev said that whoever worships the Sun God on the day of Makar Sankranti will not suffer during the period of Saturn. Thus, Makar Sankranti is seen as the agreement between the Sun and Saturn. On this day, Surya Dev enters the house of his son Shani and Shani Dev worships his father Surya Dev.

Practical and scientific reasons for Makar Sankranti

practical reasons

The practical reason for Makar Sankranti is that it is an agriculture-based festival. India is an agricultural country and the time of Makar Sankranti is the season of Kharif crops. On this day, farmers harvest their crops and bring them home. Therefore, this day is celebrated with joy and celebration.

scientific reasons

The scientific reason for Makar Sankranti is that from this day a change in nature begins due to the Uttarayan of the Sun. The days start increasing and the nights start getting shorter. Due to this, the cold season gradually starts ending and the summer season starts.

conclusion

Makar Sankranti is an important festival, which has both practical and scientific reasons. It is an agriculture-based festival and a change in nature starts from this day.

auspicious period of Makar Sankranti

Bathing, donation and sun worship have special significance on the day of Makar Sankranti. Taking a bath, donating and doing sun worship during the virtuous period brings more virtue. Makar Sankranti is an important festival of the Hindu religion, which is celebrated every year in January. On this day, the Sun God comes out of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. This event is considered the beginning of Uttarayan, which is an auspicious occasion. Because at this time the sunlight falls directly on the Northern Hemisphere.

The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated when the Sun turns Uttarayan. This festival is celebrated every year on 13 or 14 January. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun God comes out of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. This event is considered the beginning of Uttarayan. Uttarayan means that the Sun God is moving towards the Northern Hemisphere. During this period the days become longer and the nights become shorter. Sun God passes through 12 zodiac signs in a year. When the Sun enters from one zodiac sign to another, that event is called Sankranti. There are a total of 12 Sankranti in a year, which are known as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces Sankranti.

In Indian culture, many religious and cultural programs are organized on the occasion of Sankranti. The most important of these is Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated in the month of Magh.

Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on 15 January 2024. Taking a bath in holy rivers and worshipping Sun God on this day brings health, wealth, happiness, prosperity and salvation. The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great pomp all over India. In Hinduism, Makar Sankranti is considered the day of the opening of the gates of heaven. This day is considered to be the beginning of good days on earth. This is because the Sun God starts moving from the southern to the northern hemisphere from this day. This begins the day of the gods. According to religious beliefs, doing charity on the day of Makar Sankranti brings special virtue. Donation made on this day opens the way to heaven. Therefore, on this day people give special importance to bathing in holy rivers, worshipping Sun God and donating.

Auspicious time of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti Punyakaal – 07:15 to 06:21

Makar Sankranti Maha Punyakal – 07:15 to 09:06