Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival marking the Sun’s transit to Makar (Capricorn) Rashi. It always falls on the 14th of January and is the first major Hindu festival within the Gregorian calendar year.
Sankranti means movement and Makar Sankranti precisely denotes the entrance of the Sun into Makar Rashi. It also marks the start of the Uttarayana or northward movement of the Sun.
In In many parts of India, Makar Sankranti celebrated as a harvest festival dedicated to Surya the Sun God. The day celebrated well in various states with great zest and fervor.
Makar Sankranti 2022 – Determination of date
Makar Sankranti is decided consistent with the solar cycle, while most of the Hindu festivals are supported the calendar. Sankranti refers to the Sun’s transit into a new zodiac sign.
They mark the primary day of that individual solar month Makar Sankranti denotes Sun’s transit into Makar (Capricorn) Rashi, and it marks the primary day of the month Maagh.
Makar Sankranti 2022 – Muhurat
Makar Sankranti Muhurt
Punya Kaal Muhurt : 14:12 hrs to 17:45 hrs
Duration : 3 hours 32 minutes
MahaPunya Kaal Muhurt: 14:12 hrs to 14:36 hrs
Duration : 24 minutes
Makar Sankranti 2022- Puja Vidhi
The house and Puja room should be clean and ready for Puja. The Puja is complete to hunt the blessings of Lord Surya.
Therefore, the idol or image of Lord Surya is kept on an altar. A plate with four white and black laddoos made with sesame, honey, a mix of rice flour, and turmeric powder.
Betel nuts and leaves, water, flowers, lamps, and incense sticks are kept ready. Women have to compelled to cover their heads with a sari or shawl during the puja.
Surya’s mantra “ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं स: सूर्याय नम:।” is chant while performing the puja.
Why do we celebrate Makar Sankranti 2022?
Sankranti means the movement of the Sun. Anytime the Sun enters a new Rashi, Indians observe Sankranti and Makar Sankranti is give more importance because it comes after the southern solstice and marks the start of the Sun’s movement towards the north.
The significance of Sankranti is that they remind us of the very fact that life sustained by these relative movements of the earth and the Sun.
The change of seasons, the equinoxes, the northern solstice (summer solstice), the southern solstice (winter solstice), etc., are all the results of this movement.
During the solstice, the lean of the world is at maximum and therefore the Sun reaches its southernmost point.
From today, the Sun northern movement gets strong and Makar Sankranti mark the start of the steady growth within the duration of day time.
Importance of Makar Sankranti 2022 within the Spiritual Domain
Makar Sankranti takes into account to be vital for the sages and Yogis. A Yogi’s life is predict by the divine bond between the human system and therefore the cosmic system.
Their spiritual developments happen in accordance with the movements within the Universe and corresponding developments on earth.
Makar Sankranti may be a movement or transition. It marks a replacement phase of life; a gradual development of longer and warmer days.
What is the importance of Makar Sankranti 2022?
Legends and Ancient Scriptures
The significance of Makar Sankranti day is traceable in the Vedic Texts.
In Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamaha, who blessed the boon of selecting his death time, waited for the start of Uttarayana, to alleviate the soul from his body lying on the bed of arrows.
Another legend related to Makar Sankranti is that Lord Surya chose today to go to his son Shani – the lord of Makar Rashi.
Hence, there’s a belief that today is critical in strengthening the bond or resolving the conflicts between a father and son. Another legend related to this festival is that the triumph of Lord Vishnu over the Asuras.
It says that Lord Vishnu ended the distress caused by Asuras on Prithvi Lok by chopping their heads off and burying them under the Mandaar Parvat.
Hence, Makar Sankranti 2022 also signifies the victory of excellent over evil.
Social and Cultural Significances of Makar Sankranti 2022
The occasion of the Makar Sankranti festival is a crucial period within the agricultural cycle. In many parts of India, it’s either the harvest or the amount after sowing.
The festival observances and way of worship vary across the length and breadth of India. In some areas it’s a one-day festival observed only on the Sankranti, while in some states, it’s a multi-day celebration.
The celebrations include observances meant to thank Sun God for the great harvest and paving reference to the world, the crops, and therefore the cattle.
It’s also an event for socializing in many parts of India. There is a practice of preparing sweets reception, particularly from sesame and jaggery.
Kite flying is another tradition of Makar Sankranti in certain regions in India. During this era, it’s becoming more popular and has spread to new areas.
Per annum, on January 14, the cities of Ahmedabad and Delhi conduct Kite Flying Festivals.
An the enormous mass of individuals from various parts of the country and abroad participate in these events which have gotten international recognition.
Makar Sankranti 2022 in India
The day of Sankranti is vital for Hindus, everywhere across India. Makar Sankranti festival is widely known in every corner of the state, but under different names and with different traditions.
The festival known by various names like Lohri in certain North Indian regions, Sukarat in central regions, and Sankranti or Pongal in Southern regions.
The festival known by various names like Lohri in certain North Indian regions, Sukarat in central regions, and Sankranti or Pongal in Southern regions.
It celebrated in the states of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh as Maaghi; the name signifying the corresponding Moon of Maagh.
For the Assamese Hindus, the Makar Sankranti festival known as Maagh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu and in West Bengal, it is Poush Paarbon Within the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, it referred to as Sankrant and in Bihar, it is Khichdi.
Getting to the South, this festival is understood as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and is widely known with huge fanfare. It referred to as Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Sankranti in Karnataka.
Thus, the tradition of celebrating the Makar Sankranti festival varies with different regions and cultures.
Aside from all, it’s related to the astrological and agricultural cycles and has certain observances in common like paying relevance the Sun, the Earth, the crops, and so the cattle.
Also, in some regions, observing Vrat or fasting, conducting pujas at homes and giving alms are parts of this festival.
Pilgrimages during Makar Sankranti 2022
Makar Sankranti is also a very auspicious day of major religious observances at various Hindu pilgrim centers in India.
The day is taken into account important for spiritual practices and devotees take a dip within the holy rivers, like, Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
Makar Sankranti coincides with some melas or religious fairs witnessing the massive participation of people.
The foremost famous of these melas is that the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years at one of four holy locations, namely Haridwar, Prayaag (Allahabad), Ujjain, and Nasik.
The Makar Sankranti festival is widely known by thousands of devotees during the Maagh Mela (Mini Kumbh Mela held annually at Prayaag).
The Ganga Sagar Mela held at Sagar Island in West Bengal where Ganga approaches the ocean is another major event where many thousands of devotees celebrate Makar Sankranti.
It is the foremost important day of the famous Sabarimala Pilgrimage.
The influx of devotees to Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala, Kerala are getting to be at the utmost on this day people gather at temple premises to witness the auspicious Makara Vilakku and Makara Jyoti.
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