मकर संक्रांति/लोहरी/भोगी
Makar Sankranti/Lohri/Bhogi
January 15, 2024
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
मकर संक्रांति (Makar Sankranti, transit to Capricon), is the first and most auspicious of the twelve Sankrants during the year and is celebrated in India and Nepal; in South and South East Asia; and by the Indian diaspora.
Sankrant is the transit of Sun from one Rashi (constellation of zodiac) to the next. Makar Sankranti is Sun’s transit from the zodiac sign Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makara (Capricon). Alongside the transit to Makara (Capricon), the Sun also moves to the northern hemisphere [2] which marks the beginning of the end of winter and the start of warmer/longer days.
All the twelve transits of सूर्य देवता (Surya Devata Sun God) to the next Rashi are considered auspicious, but the transit to Makar Rashi (Capricon) is considered the most auspicious.
To the rationalist, absence of sunshine and warmth in the winter months, recognises the value/importance of sun/shine, and so the associated metaphor `most auspicious’.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated during the lunar month of Magha (the second month), corresponding to January of the Gregorian calendar. This is one of the few festivals which falls around the same date/month every year (January 14 or 15).
Makar Sankranti occurs when Sun enters Capricorn and is observed on a day that usually falls on 14 January, but on 15 January in leap years.
Surya Devata is worshipped by taking a ritual bath in sacred rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and Krishna, and in local rivers and local water bodies and by performing acts of charity. Sun is worshipped because it nourishes life on mother earth.
On Makar Sankranti, Sun is worshipped along with Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi. In parts of Southern India, on the day after Sankranti, Lord Krishna is also worshipped, based on the legend of Lord Krishna having lifted Govardhan parbat. [3] Apart from deities, cattle are worshipped during Sankranti, recognising their economic contribution and signifying harmony with nature.
The significance of worshipping Surya Devata (Sun God) is traced back to Vedic times, the Gayatri Mantra in Rigveda. It is believed that Sankranti, after whom the festival is named, was a deity, who killed a demon called Sankarasur on this day.
Makar Sankranti and Uttarayana
Uttarayana is a synthesised word Uttara (north) and Ayana (six months) and signifies northward movement of the Sun. Makar Sankranti and Uttarayana are two separate astronomical and religious events and occur on different days. Makar Sankranti occurs on 14 or 15 January; while Uttarayana is on 21/22 December.
It is stated/believed, that, in 285 A.D., date of Makar Sankranti coincided with Uttarayana.
List of Sankranti related/ timed festivals
In most states/regions of India, and in South and South-East Asia, Sankranti is celebrated for two to four days. On each day, there are festivities with different names and associated rituals.
Different names of Sankranti and associated states | ||
Day | Name of Celebration | State/Region and Countries # |
1 | Bhogi/Pandigai | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Lal Loi | Parts of India where the Sindhi Community resides, Sindh province of Pakistan |
| Lohri | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Rajasthan (some parts), Uttar Pradesh |
| Dahi Chura | Bihar, |
| Maghi | Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab |
| Maghi Saaji/Magha Ra Saza | Himachal Pradesh |
| Maghi Parva/ Maghi Sankranti | Bihar, Nepal |
| Maghi Sangrand/ Uttarain (Uttarayana) | Haryana, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, Uttarkhand |
| Sakrat/Sakraat/Sukarat | Central India, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, |
2 | Makar/Sankranti | Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal |
| Ghughuti | Uttarakhand |
| Khichidi Sankranti | Uttar Pradesh |
| Magh Bihu/Bhogali Bihu/ Maghar Domahi/Uruka | Assam |
| Makar Sankraman | Karnataka |
| Makara Vilakku | Kerala |
| Pedda Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Poush Sankranti/ Mokor Sonkranti | West Bengal |
| (Thai) Pongal or Uzhavar Thirunal | Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, |
| Sankranti | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Shishur Senkrath | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Suggi | Karnataka |
| Til Sakraat | Mithila Region |
| Uttarayana (Uttarain) | Gujarat, Jammu region (Jammu and Kashmir), Uttar Pradesh |
| Uttarayani | Uttarakhand |
3 | Kanuma Panduga | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Mattu (Bull) Pongal (Jallikattu or Manji Virattu is also observed on this day) | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Sri Lanka |
4 | Kaanum Pongal (is also observed as Thiruvalluvar Day) | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, |
| Mukkanuma | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
Note: 1. Compiled by the Author 2. # The festivals are also celebrated in adjoining/other regions. |
Makar Sankranti is called
Maghe Sankranti in Nepal
Songkran in Thailand
Thingyan in Myanmar
Mohan Songkran in Cambodia.
Celebrations of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different states in forms symbolising unity in diversity of Indian culture, religion, society, but not in a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all. Different forms of celebration/prayer ceremonies across states/regions, have an undercurrent that the crop is ready and it is time for fun and enjoyment. In all states/regions, it is observed by paying obeisance to Surya Devata (Sun God), whose light and heat energy nourishes life on Earth.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated with social festivities, bonfires, colourful decorations, dances, kite flying, and making sweets from til and gur. A shared cultural practice found in the celebrations is preparing sticky sweets particularly from sesame (til) with a base such as jaggery/gur. Use of til ladoos, til-gur, gur patti, add to body resistance to fight/resist cold. [4]
In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sankranti is celebrated as Bhogi Pandigai, Kanuma Panduga, and Pedda Panduga for four days. On the first day Bhogi Pandigai, Lord Indra is worshipped by farmers to bless the land with prosperity, wealth and good rains. Pedda Panduga (Big festival) on the second day, is dedicated to Surya Devata. On Kanuma Panduga, the third day as part of Telangana's farming culture, farmers clean farm implements, give cattle a ritual bath, with oil on the horns, turmeric on the head and kumkum on the forehead.
In Assam, Sankranti celebrated as Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi or Bhogali Bihu, is dedicated to Agni Dev, and is a harvest festival, with community feasts and lighting of bonfires known as Meji. The festival begins with Uruka, followed by Bihu. Jolpan, a sweet platter is prepared from various types of rice like bora saul, kumol saul and served with milk or curd and jaggery. There are delightful treats like Narikol Laru (coconut laddoo), ghila pitha (fried rice dumplings), Tekeli pitha, Kachi pitha, and Sunga Pithas.
In Gujarat, it is celebrated as Uttarayana and people fly kites and give gifts to younger members of the family. 'Kai Po Che' is the call given when you cut the kite/string of a competitor. It is called ‘woh/boh kate’ in Punjab. At Mumbai’s Girgaon Chowpatty, people gather to fly kites and celebrate the festival.
In Kerala, Makara Vilakku is an important festival at Sabarimala Temple. Thousands of devotees of Lord Ayyappa gather at the temple to see Makar Vilakku (light or flame) which appears thrice on the Ponnambalamedu hill, 4 km away from the temple.
In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti is a three-day long festival. People greet family/friends by sharing traditional food like multi-coloured halwa, puran poli, and til-gul laddoo. Bajra roti sprinkled with til and mixed vegetable (palak, carrot, peas) is eaten. Haldi-Kumkum is an event organized by married women in their homes.
In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Pongal for four days as Thai Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu (cow) Pongal and Kaanum (to see) Pongal. [5]
Kaappu Kattu, a tradition of tying neem (and other) leaves, with medicinal qualities on the roofs of houses and in residential areas is practiced in Kongu Nadu (western parts of Tamil Nadu).
In West Bengal, Makar Sankranti or Poush Songkranti is celebrated as Poush Parbon. Gangasagar, is an island in the Ganga delta, before the river joins the Bay of Bengal and is famous for hosting the Gangasagar Mela, around Poush Songkranti. People take a ritual bath early in the morning and donate til seeds to the poor. Pithas or sweets are made from coconut, jaggery, milk and rice flour.
Food preparations during Makar Sankranti
Dahi Chura Gur: This dish from Bihar, includes curd or yogurt, chivda/chirava (flattened rice flakes) and jaggery, and is eaten on Makar Sankranti.
Khichdi: Khichdi is prepared for lunch in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Khichdi prepared with rice, pulses, vegetables, and dry fruits, is a wholesome meal served with lots of desi ghee. It is served with mixed vegetables, papad, chutney, dahi, and achar. In parts of India, Urad Dal kichdi is prepared. Along with khichdi, mashed potato, range of pakodas (brinjal/ eggplant, potato, onion, cauliflower) are also eaten.
Sun Temple
Worship of Surya Devata is reflected in the several Sun temples in India. The most prominent Sun temple is the `Konark Sun temple’, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Black Pagoda at Konark in Odisha. Surajkund 'Lake of the Sun' is an ancient reservoir built in the 10th century, is located on Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range, Faridabad, Haryana.
ॐ सूर्याय नम:
Prayers for Surya Devata
Gayatri Mahamantra गायत्री महामन्त्र
In Sanskrit
ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात्।
सूर्य नमस्कार Surya namaskara is a yoga mudra and has an associated prayer mantra invoking 12 names of Surya Devata, while the yogi faces the sun and practices the 12 sun asanas. [6]
1. ॐ हृां मित्राय नम: , Om Mitraya namaha
2. ॐ हृीं रवये नम: , Om Ravayre namaha
3. ॐ हूं सूर्याय नम: , Om Suryaya namaha
4. ॐ ह्रां भानवे नम: , Om Bhanave namaha
5. ॐ हृों खगाय नम: , Om Khagaya namaha
6. ॐ हृ: पूषणे नम: , Om Pushne namaha
7. ॐ ह्रां हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः , Om Hiranyagarbhaya namaha
8. ॐ मरीचये नमः , Om Marichaye namaha
9. ॐ आदित्याय नमः , Om Adityaya namaha
10. ॐ सवित्रे नमः , Om Savitre namaha
11. ॐ अर्काय नमः , Om Arkaya namaha
12. ॐ भास्कराय नमः , Om Bhaskaraya namaha
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service (Retired), former Senior Economic Adviser, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar),
X (formerly twitter) (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/),
been writing/sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The earth moves around the Sun, which is static compared to Earth. However, due to the axial tilt of the earth, during the six months commencing December, Sun/shine becomes stronger in the northern hemisphere, so the metaphor that Sun moves to the northern hemisphere.
[3] Devotees of Lord Krishna celebrate the event by preparing 56 dishes, which story can be read at https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/chappan-bhog-rohit-kumar-parmar .
[4] For details on Til and Gur preparations please see link
[5] A separate article on Pongal is also being shared and will be available on https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site.
[6] Details of the Surya Namaskar can be found on the web and in books.
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