The harvest festival, also known as Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Maghi, Bihu, Uttarayan, or Pongal, is quickly approaching and is widely observed throughout India. On January 14th of each year, India is swept up in a wave of jubilant celebration. With Makar Sankranti, also known as the Harvest Festival, the country commemorates an end and a fresh start amidst hues of yellow and sky blue festooned with colorful kites.
Sankranti, according to the Vedas, describes how the sun changes from one Rashi (zodiacal constellation) to the next. This results in 12 Sankrantis each year. Makar Sankranti, also known as Poush Sankranti, is regarded as the most auspicious of all Hindu holidays since it is one of the few that coincide with the solar cycle. Makar Sankranti should be observed for more than just its religious importance. The occasion marks the beginning of the harvest season when new crops are enthusiastically enjoyed and shared.
The sun begins its transition from the Dakshinayana (South) to the Uttarayana (North) hemisphere on this day, officially indicating the end of winter. The occasion honors the sun’s entry into Makar Raashi and is both a religious festival and a seasonal rite (for the Capricorn zodiac sign).
One of the most well-liked activities on Poush Sankranti, especially in the Gujarat area, is kite flying. It is believed that the practice of flying kites began as a way to promote health. The objective was to expose oneself to the first rays of the early summer sun to gain vitamin D.
Makar Sankranti is regarded as the coldest day of winter since it is the day after the solstice. In contrast to other hues, black as a colour absorbs all the heat. Therefore, on a chilly winter day, it is picked to remain warm.This celebration denotes the end of winter since it commemorates the time when the sun shifts, which represents the return of longer days. Several worshippers pray to the sun for a better agricultural harvest and good fortune. Wearing black, which is typically seen as unlucky on fortunate occasions, is one of the most significant aspects of this festival. Women often don traditional Indian saris on Makar Sankranti; the most popular choices are yellow and lavish silk drapes. Festivals are mostly about feasts, so families and crowds make a fashion statement by donning their finest attire. This year, Makar Sankranti will happen on Sunday, January 15, 2023.
Happy Makar Sankranti from the Akruti Collection family to you! Take a minute to reflect on the past, purge the bad, and make room for fresh light to enter your life on this auspicious day.
