It is a Festival of Harvest, Celebration of Winter
Solstice.
It is one of the most auspicious occasions for the
Hindus.
It is celebrated in almost all parts of India in under
different names and varying cultural forms.
It is perhaps the only Indian festival whose date always
falls on the same day every year on the 14th of January
(with just a few exceptions).
It is the day when the Sun-God begins its ascendancy and
entry into the Northern Hemisphere .
To Hindus, the Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light
and wisdom.
Makar Sankranti signifies that we should turn away from
the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to
enjoy a new life with bright light within us to shine
brighter and brighter.
Owing to the vast geography and diversity of cultures in
India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons
and in innumerable ways depending on the climate,
agricultural environment, cultural background and location.
On this day children fly kites.
It is known by different regional names:
Makar Sankranti or Sankranti -
Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, Goa,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Orissa, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and
West Bengal.
Uttarayan - Gujarat and Rajasthan
Maghi - Haryana, Himachal Pradesh
and Punjab
Pongal - Tamil Nadu
Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu - Assam
Valley
Shishur Saenkraat - Kashmir Valley
Makara Vilakku Festival - Kerala
Khichdi - Uttar Pradesh
In other countries too the day is celebrated but under
different names and in different ways
Nepal
Tharu
people - Maghi; Other people - Maghe Sankranti or
Maghe Sakrati
