Makar Sankranti being celebrated all over India

Makar Sankranti being celebrated all over India

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Culture 

In news 

• The Vice President of India greeted fellow citizens on the eve of the festivals of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bhogali Bihu, Uttarayan and Paush Parbon.
• These festivals are celebrated in diverse yet similar ways, across India.

Key takeaways 

• Makar Sankranti is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to deity Surya (sun).
• Makar Sankranti is observed according to solar cycles. 
• It is held normally on the 14th of January, or a day before or after. 
• In certain regions celebrations can go on for even four days and vary a lot in the rituals.
• It marks the – first day of sun’s transit into the Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.
• It is also celebrated as a harvest Festival. 

Do you know? 

Different names of the same festival

• Makar Sankranti – Odisha, Maharashtra-Goa, Andhra-Telengana, Kerala and most of the north India
• Paush Parbon –  Bengal
• Pongal – Tamil Nadu
• Bhogali Bihu –  Assam
• Lohri – Punjab and Jammu
• Maghi – Haryana and Himachal
• Khichdi Parwa –  parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh