Makar Sankranti Essay in English for Students and Children
Makar Sankranti Essay English
Makar Sankranti
India is a country with different festivals celebrated by different religions. Each festival has its own significance. Makar Sankranti is one such festival with important cultural backgrounds. This festival is mostly popular amongst Hindus across the country.
Makar Sankranti is the festival of sacredness, prosperity, donation, togetherness, and joy.
People celebrate this festival by taking a dip in the early morning in the holy rivers and offering prayer to the sun. According to Hindu mythology, the sun is worshiped as God and a symbol of energy.
To mark the first day of the sun’s transition to Capricorn, people in India celebrate Makar Sankranti.
Different Name of Makar Sankranti
This festival is celebrated across the whole country with knowing different names. In Assam, it is known as Magh Bihu Parva, in Tamil Nadu, it is known as Pongal, in Gujarat, it is known as Uttrayan, in Bihar and Jharkhand it is Sukarat or Til Sankrant, in Utter Pradesh, it is called khichdi Parva, Maghi (preceded by Lohri) in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
In Odisha, It is Makara Mela or Makara Chaula, and also others state it has different names.
But by giving different names and celebrating according to their own beliefs, the main aim of this festival is the same which is to spread the messages of togetherness among the people.
When Makar Sankranti falls?
Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival that is celebrated every year on the 14th or 15th of January depending upon the solar cycle.
Makar Sankranti has its own meaning. Makar Sankranti is derived from two words Makar and Sankranti. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi to the next.
Makar Sankranti means transmigration of the sun in the Capricorn (zodiac sign). So, on this day god Sun is worshiped by the Hindu community according to their mythology.
It is said that after Makar Sankranti, the sun starts its movement toward the north. This movement is also known as Uttrayan. One can find the mention of Makar Sankranti in the Hindu almanac.
This almanac gives information on the clothing age, form direction as well as the movement of Sankranti.
Why Makar Sankranti is celebrated?
According to the Hindu religion, Makar Sankranti is dedicated to the god sun. According to the Hindu calendar, this day is the last of the month of Poush or posh and it is followed by the beginning of the month of Magha.
According to Puranas, on this day the God Sun visits the house of Shani Deva, the swami of Makar Rashi. Deity Shani is the son of the God sun according to Hindu mythology. So this day symbolizes the importance of a special father-son relationship.
Also, the story of the Makar Sankranti festival comes from the epics of Mahabharata. Bhishma Pitamaha, during the war, was badly injured by the arrow of Arjuna. He chose to wait for Uttrayan so that he would get salvation and be free from his cycle of rebirth.
Cultural significance of Makar Sankranti
According to the ancient religion, on this day sun starts entering northward (Uttrayan). It is considered as per Hindu mythology that Uttrayan symbolizes the day of Gods and is taken as a sign of positivity.
The shifting of the sun into Capricorn is of divine importance. According to astrology, the Sun enters all the zodiac signs but its entry in the signs of cancer and Capricorn are deemed to be the most fruitful periods.
According to this belief, devotees believe that taking a dip in the holy river like Ganga, Godavari, and Krishna, wash away all their sins and make them pure and blessed.
Furthermore, it is also believed that taking a dip in the holy Triveni Sangam (the point where three holy rivers namely Ganga, Yamuna, and the Brahmaputra) at Prayagraj on the Makar Sankranti day has great importance in the region. So taking a dip in such holy rivers washes all the sins with the flow of water.
Also, it signifies the increase in spiritual light and reduction of materialized darkness.
Makar Sankranti celebration
This festival marks a very auspicious and sacred occasion in Hinduism. It is a festival of togetherness and enjoying sweet delicacies. The custom of each and every region is different and each region celebrates its respective customs. The main cuisine of this festival is a dish made of Til and Jaggery.
In Utter Pradesh and Bihar, it is called Khichdi Parva.
In Bihar, apart from dishes made of till and jaggery, Dahi and Chudda are special cuisines that they enjoy by spending time together with family.
Kite flying is also a great part of this festival. During days, the whole family enjoys kites flying in different colors. The sky is filled with a lot of colorful and different designs.
Good deeds on Makar Sankranti
It is believed that any good deeds or charity are deemed to be more fruitful on this day. It is believed that performing religious ceremonies like Haldi and Kumkum on this day invited quiescent waves from the Aadi-Shakti into the universe.
Charity is the most important part of this festival. We should donate wheat, rice, and sweets to needy and poor people on this day. By doing this with an open heart, God will bring prosperity and happiness to our life and remove all difficulties from one’s life.
Conclusion
This festival is full of religious performing and enjoying sweets dishes. It keeps one bound with joy and socialism. The aim of this festival remains the same throughout the country despite various customs. It spread the messages of prosperity, togetherness, and joy. Also, it gives the message to respect others and live our own life with peace and harmony just like sweet cuisines, Til and Jaggery.
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