Highlights

Makar Sankranti is observed in the honor of the Sun God.
The day is characterised by sacrifice, generosity, and perseverance.
Makar Sankranti is known by several names, Sakrat, Khichri, Uttarayana, Pusna, Suggi Habba, and Shishur Saenkraat.

As the auspicious festival of ‘Makar Sankranti’ is here, let us dig deeper into its significance in the Hindu religious belief system. People celebrate this festival in reverence of ‘Surya Devta’ or the ‘Sun God’ and is popular amongst the farmers, who on this day worship the deity and pray for good crops. The significance of the ‘Sun God’ according to the Hindu scriptures traces back to the sacred scripture of the ‘Rig Veda’, written somewhere between 1000-1500 BCE. The festival is considered sacred and auspicious for reasons of charity, tenacity, worship as well as sacrifice. It also marks the sun’s transit into Makara (Capricorn).

Throughout the country, people call it by various names such as –

Pusna in West Bengal
Suggi Habba in Karnataka
Uttarayana in Gujarat
Shishur Saenkraat in Kashmir Valley
Sakrat or Khichri in Uttar Pradesh.

Let us dig into the significance of this auspicious festival of Makara Sankranti

Makar Sankranti: What Do The Festivities Look Like

Celebrations include sharing and worshipping new crops, taking a holy dip in the Ganges, preparing savouries made out of jaggery and sesame, flying kites, giving alms to the poor, worshipping livestock, etc. The festivities usually go on for 2-4 days.

In the areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, people prepare Khichdi and consume on this day. For the devotees of the Gorakhnath temple, it is customary to make an offering of ‘khichdi’ to the temple.

Historical Significance

In Hindu mythology, Sankranti is a deity who demolished a demon called Sankarasur. On the next day of Makar Sankranti, also known as ‘kinkrant’ or ‘karidin’, the Devi destroyed the villain ‘Kinkaras’. The period of Makar-Sankranti is also known as ‘Uttarayana’ and as per the story of The Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah had awaited the sun to be in Uttarayana to embrace death. This is also the time when the sun begins to move North. Before Makar Sankranti, the sun shines in the Southern hemisphere.

Hindus believe this period to be auspicious, and it is known as ‘Uttarayana’ or Winter Solstice. For the most of India, this festival falls during that time of the agricultural cycle when the Rabi crop has been sown and the majority of the hard work on the fields has ended. This break from relentless hard work for the farmers becomes an additional reason for the festivities that are carried out.

Date And Timings For Makar Sankranti 2024

According to the Drik Panchang, this year Makar Sankranti falls on the 15th of January.

The timings for the Punya Kala are from 07:15 AM to 05:46 PM.
Duration: 10 Hours 31 Mins

The timings for the Maha Punya Kala are from 07:15 AM to 09:00 AM.
Duration: 1 Hour 45 Mins

The Makar Sankranti moment shall be observed at 02.54 A.M. on the 15th of January.

Makar Sankranti Wishes

“Wishing you and your family lots of happiness and sweet surprises this Makar Sankranti!”
“Explore the brightest light coming from the sun’s rays and enjoy this gentle breeze & cool air with hearty music. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Makar Sankranti”
“Let’s come together and celebrate this day of happiness and joy. Let’s fly the kites and touch the skies of happiness. Wish you a Happy Makar Sankranti”
“With great devotion, fervour, and vivacity, with rays of hope and light, we wish you a very Happy Makar Sankranti”
“Hope the rising sun on Makar Sankranti fills your life with abundant joy and prosperity.”