Makar Sankranti: The Lost Practices And The Celebration

Makar Sankranti: The Lost Practices And The Celebration

Makar Sankranti is a festival in the Hindu calendar that marks the beginning of the harvest season. The term Makar Sankranti signifies the Sun’s transition into the sign of Capricorn or Makara.  It goes by different names in different parts of the country, like ‘Pongal’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Khichdi’ in Bihar, and ‘Uttarayan’ in Gujarat. From the Northern to the Southern states of the country, the rituals and practices to commemorate this auspicious festival are very different. 

Sankranti is a grand festival and is of high importance to many people in the country. In Odisha, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Makara Sankranti, and on this day, Makara Chaula (a dish made with uncooked newly harvested rice) is prepared in every household. People also practice some rituals exclusive to Odisha like, ‘Makara Basiba’ where the bond between two friends is acknowledged. Similarly, in other parts of the country, the festival is celebrated with different practices, like flying kites for the people of Gujarat and Rajasthan, married women donating cotton, oil, and salt to other married women for their first Sankranti in Maharashtra, or burning logs of wood for the people of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

“During Sankrant, a special type of sweet called til ke laddu is prepared and is distributed amongst the poor people. Donation is a huge part of the festival and is considered to be a sacred act. Back in Jaipur, people fly kites and celebrate this day with great enthusiasm.” says Bhanvi Sharma, an undergraduate student residing in Bhadrak.  

Makar Sankranti is an extremely important part of the culture and traditions followed by people from different regions. But nowadays certain practices or marks of celebration have become very rare in most of these places. The customs and rituals attached to Makar Sankranti have become quite invisible with the changing times, especially in the cities. 

Pranati Jonnalagadda, an undergraduate student, says that ” Sankranti is celebrated lavishly in villages. Over time, people have forgotten the specialty of Sankranti. We celebrate the festival for three days. The first day is Bhogi, where we burn wood and unwanted things from our homes. The second and third days are the main days of Sankranti. The village vibe has to be brought into the cities for us to celebrate the festival.”

Tej, another undergraduate student, says, ” The first day of Sankranti is ‘Bhogi’. The second day is of utmost importance, where we cook paravanam (sweet rice). But there used to be carnivals, river pujas, and kite flying as well, which is very rare nowadays.”

It is true that with each passing year, most people dwelling in the cities especially, have got unattached from certain practices. Many people have forgotten that this occasion is more than just a holiday. Most people celebrate the festival but only with customs followed within the four walls of their houses. 

“My mother prepares Makara Chaula for Sankranti. We have a puja at our place. People at my home and my neighbors celebrate the festival like that every year. I have heard of rituals like ‘Makara Basiba’. But I don’t know about the practice as I have never witnessed it.” says Ashutosh Das, a college student. 

Even though most of the practices exclusive to different cultures are fading with time, many are still alive and are maintained with extreme care. If you walk down the streets of villages, you can witness the festival with all its grandeur. Makar Sankranti is the only festival on the Hindu Calendar celebrated on a fixed and defined date every year. And we hope that this year brings more joy and happiness to you.

My City Links wishes you a happy, healthy and prosperous Makar Sankranti!