Makar Sankranti

Makara Sankranti is regarded as important for spiritual practices and accordingly, people take a holy dip in rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. The bathing is believed to result in merit or absolution of past sins. They also pray to the sun and thank for their successes and prosperity. Sankranti day is dedicated to Lord Sun. It also refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. And Makar Sankranti is one of the important festivals in the Hindu calendar. This harvesting festival is usually celebrated on January 14th or 15th every year, depending on the solar cycle. The main motto of this festival is to take a holy dip in the water and offer prayers to the Sun God. So this festival signifies the change of the sun into Capricorn. It represents the end of the inauspicious period called Poush in the Hindu calendar. Hindus take a holy dip in rivers, ideally the river Ganga on the morning of the festival. Post Makar Sankranti, the long winter nights also get shorter. Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival celebrated on the 14th of January every year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the start of Spring. Farmers celebrate it to thank mother nature for a bountiful crop. In general, it depicts the start of a period of peace, prosperity and goodwill. It falls on the same day every year according to the Gregorian calendar. Unlike many cultural festivals which move around on the calendar each year, Makar Sankrati is always celebrated on January 15th with a few exceptions where it is on the 13th. 2. It falls on the solstice so the day and night are the same length.