Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Flavors of Makar Sankranti across India...

    Makar Sankranti is one of the major Hindu festival in India, dedicated to the Lord Sun (Surya devata). It is a major harvest festival of India which is also known as Maghi. It is considered to extremely auspicious, as it marks the transition of sun to sign of Capricorn or Makar rashi. It also marks as the end of the winter season and beginning of the spring. This festival is also known as \"Uttarayan\" because from this day sun begins it\"s northward journey. On this day, people thank the Lord Sun for a good harvest and offer the first grain to him. 
    This festival is celebrated in almost all parts of the India specially in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam and Jammu. There are variations of this festival across India.  

Celebration in different regions of the India:

Maharashtra: On this day, People exchange til-gul laaddoo (sweet made up of sesame seeds and jaggery) and multi coloured halwa (Sugar granules coated in sugar syrup). Married women invite friends/family members and celebrate Haldi-Kumkum. Guests are given til-gul and some small gift, as a part of the ritual. People draw beautiful rangolis at the house entrance. 


Tamil Nadu: This festival is known as "Pongal" in Tamil Nadu. The term Pongal in Tamil means "to boil". On this day, a special dish called \"Pongal\" is prepared and offered to Lord Sun in the morning. Pongal is prepared by boiling harvested rice with milk and jaggery in a clay pot.  


Punjab: In this state. this festival is known as "Lohri". Lohri is celebrated as a bonfire. The sugarcane harvest is celebrated in this festival. One this day, people gather and dance on the folk songs around a bonfire in the evening. 


Andhra Pradesh: It is known as "Pedda Panduga" in Andhra Pradesh. People celebrate this festival with prayer, new cloths and by inviting guests for feasts. The entrance of the house is decorated with \"muggu\" designs i.e. rangoli. 


Karnataka: It is one of the biggest festival in Karnataka. As per rituals, on this pious day, everyone wears new clothes visit and greet their loved ones and exchange a special foodstuff which is a mixture includes ellu (sesame seeds) mixed with groundnuts, coconut and jaggery and the mixture is known as “Ellu Bella” and the ritual is known as “Ellu Birodhu”. 


Gujarat, Rajasthan: In these states, People celebrate this festival by flying kites so it is also known as \"Festival of kites\". In Gujarat, this festival is also known as \"Uttarayan\".




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