Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti, almost always falls on January 14, except in
rare years when the date shifts by a day for that year, because of the
complexity of earth-sun relative movement
It is
one of the few ancient Hindu festivals that has been observed according to
solar cycles, while most festivals are set by the lunar cycle of the lunisolar
Hindu calendar. It marks the end of winter and beginning of summer.
Makar
Sankranti is an important pan-Indian solar festival, known by different names
though observed on the same date, sometimes for multiple dates around the Makar
Sankranti. Different festicals are celebrated on this day, or during this
period across the country in different names: Lohri in north India, Pongal in
Tamil Nadu, Pedda Panduga in Andhra
Pradesh, Bhogali Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in parts of central and north
India, as Makar Sankranti in the west India, and by other names. Besides the
rituals and puja, the festivals are often associated with fun, frolic, dances,
kite flying, bonfires and feast.
