Makar Sankranti an Agricultural Culture in India

By Mira Pawar.

Makar Sankranti is a festival in India that marks the beginning of longer days and the end of winter. It usually falls on the same Gregorian date each year. This year, as always it is on the 14^th of January. Sankranti is a celebration of the sun’s transition into the Capricorn zodiac sign, also known as Makkar Rashi. It’s also a harvest festival that marks the beginning of the new crop season and is the only Hindu festival based on the solar calendar instead of the lunar. It is the celebration of the sun’s journey from the southern to the northern hemisphere and is considered an auspicious time. Makar translates as Capricorn and Sankranti means transition.

People mostly celebrate by flying kites, taking a holy dip in the ganga, eating and exchanging sweets, bonfire, singing and dancing, making rangoli and visiting temples. Sankranti symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair. It is also a time for renewal, gratitude, and celebrating life’s bounties. However, Sankranti is known by different names in different parts of India:

1.Pongal: Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated predominantly in Tamil Nadu. It marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey (Uttaraayana) and is dedicated to the Sun God. The festival involves cooking a special dish called ‘Pongal’ made of newly harvested rice, and it is a time for family gatherings, traditional games, and cultural practices.

2. Makar Sankranti (Across India): Makar Sankranti is celebrated in various parts of India, marking the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar). It is known by different names in different states, such as Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra, Uttarayan in Gujarat, and Khichdi Makar Sankranti in Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated with kite flying, feasting, and rituals related to gratitude for the harvest.

3. Bihu (Assam): Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is an important festival in Assam that celebrates the harvest season, especially of rice. The festival is characterized by traditional music, dance (Bihu dance), and feasting. Bihuwas (the people of Assam) celebrate it with a sense of community spirit, new beginnings, and cultural performances.

 4. Lohri (Punjab and Haryana): Lohri is a popular festival in Punjab and parts of northern India, marking the end of winter and the onset of longer days. It is celebrated with bonfires, singing traditional songs, and dancing around the flames. It is a joyous occasion to give thanks for the harvest, particularly of sugarcane.

5. Baisakhi (Punjab): Baisakhi, celebrated in Punjab and Haryana, not only marks the harvest of rabi crops but also holds religious significance for Sikhs as it commemorates the formation of the Khalsa. Festivities include dancing the Bhangra and Gidda, singing traditional folk songs, and sharing meals with family and friends.

6. Makaravilakku (Kerala): Makaravilakku is celebrated in Kerala with great fervor, particularly at the Sabarimala Temple. It marks the harvest season and is associated with rituals that pay homage to Lord Ayyappa. People gather to witness the special rituals and partake in communal celebrations.

These festivals showcase the diversity of India’s agricultural culture and highlight the importance of the harvest in various communities across the country.