: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 11:03 PM
mKar Sankranti is celebrated across the country on 14th January. It is not just a festival but has many aspects like spiritual, welcoming of Rabi harvest, removal of vata and pitta. On this day, as soon as the Sun enters Capricorn, it becomes Uttarayan, in the scriptures Uttarayan has been called the period of the gods. Uttarayan of the Sun is also considered to mean opening of the doors of heaven. According to folk beliefs, those who die in the Sun of Uttarayan attain salvation, whereas those who sacrifice their lives in the Sun of Dakshinayan have to take rebirth, that is why Bhishma Pitamah sacrificed his life on the day of Makar Sankranti, i.e. when the Sun is Uttarayan, it is also celebrated as Bhishmashtami, despite Bhishma Pitamah getting the boon of voluntary death, he did Uttarayan to attain salvation. Had waited for the time. India is a country of festivals and it celebrates every festival with joy and also welcomes all the seasons with great pomp and show. Similarly, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a huge religious fair is organized at Kapil Muni Ashram in Gangasagar, West Bengal. Gangasagar Fair is considered to be the second largest Hindu religious fair in the country after Kumbh Mela.
January 14 marks the beginning of the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti in India, which marks the New Year, the rising of the Sun and the arrival of Rabi crops, which is celebrated in different parts of the country with names like Lohri, Pongal, Bihu, with traditions like eating sesame-jaggery dishes, kite flying and holy bath, which brings happiness and prosperity. On this day the Sun enters Capricorn and starts its journey towards the north (Uttarayan), hence it is also called Uttarayan. The spiritual tradition of Sabarimala is also associated with Makar Sankranti.
The holy shrine of Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy located in Kerala is opened to the devotees with special devotion on the day of Makar Sankranti after the end of the Mandal period. According to the faith of the devotees, Makaravilakku is worshiped as a divine light. Lakhs of devotees visit Lord Ayyappa with chants of Swami Sharanam Ayyappa. Through 41 days of fasting, virtuous living and self-restraint, devotees celebrate Makar Sankranti not just as a festival but as a sacred festival of self-purification and spiritual practice.
When the Sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer (Karka) to the Tropic of Capricorn (Makar) and crosses the winter solstice. Starting with Bhogi on January 13, the festival represents the shift from Shishir Ritu (end of winter) to Vasant Ritu (spring). The Sun’s existence, movement and positions in the universe play a major role in our circadian rhythm, so this transition is important in Ayurveda Ritucharya or seasonal diet. When the Sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer (Karka) to the Tropic of Capricorn (Makar) and crosses the winter solstice. Jaggery is sweet and hot. Consuming it in this season relieves vata. In different parts of the country, people start bathing in rivers in the dark of night despite the severe cold on this day.
Lakhs of devotees gather on this occasion at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Ganga Ghat in Varanasi, Kurukshetra in Haryana, Pushkar in Rajasthan and Godavari River in Nashik, Maharashtra. On this festival, the Magh Mela held in Allahabad and the fair held on the banks of Gangasagar in Kolkata are quite famous. There is a lot of celebration of this festival in Ayodhya also. Here a large number of devotees take a dip in the holy Saryu and worship Ramlala, Hanumanlala at Hanumangarhi and Maa Janaki at Kanak Bhawan.
A fair is also organized in Haridwar during this period in which the scene of faith of thousands of devotees is seen. Charity also has great importance on the day of Makar Sankranti. The virtue of charity shows that happiness in life is celebrated with people, it increases wealth and prosperity, that is why it is said that charity is the greatest virtue and giving pain to others is the biggest sin.
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