5 Things You Should Do On Makar Sankranti 

The festival of Makar Sankranti is right around the corner. It’s an auspicious day to celebrate with your loved ones and includes delicious sweets, colorful decorations, and new clothes. It marks the ending of the winter season and the beginning of the spring season. Makar Sankranti is known by different names across the country and is celebrated with great reverence and devotion. It is the first harvest festival of the year and always occurs in January. The Sun God is worshipped, and sweets are offered to deities as a thanksgiving offering for a bountiful harvest. With so many traditions that come with the festival of Makar Sankranti, here are 5 things that you should do with your family to commemorate the auspicious day:

In This Article

1. The Holy Bath

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In the northern parts of India, Makar Sankranti is called Lohri. The festival begins with people dipping themselves in the holy rivers of Ganga and Yamuna in the morning. It is believed that taking a bath in the holy water and offering water to the Sun God will free them from negativity and cleanse their bodies from physical ailments.

2. Aarti

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Aarti is a part of every Hindu festival and is considered to be auspicious. The purpose of performing aarti is to wave lighted wicks before the deities as a sign of gratitude and humility. The word aarti means “ceremony of lights”, and devotees believe that they are immersed in the divinity of the holy one. Just like other festivals, the aarti is performed during Makar Sankranti after the holy bath with camphor to show reverence to the Sun God.

3. Daan Dakshina

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Sweets are another integral part of any Indian festival. During Makar Sankranti, people prepare sweets with sesame seeds and jaggery. It is a famous delicacy that is popular all across the country. After the holy bath, people perform the Daan Dakshina. At this ceremony, ladoos and other sweets made with lentils, sesame seeds, jaggery, and rice are offered to deities as a symbol of gratitude for all their blessings in life. Black sesame is a significant part of Daan Dakshina and is used as a sign to remove bad omen and negative energies from one’s life.

4. Eating Dahi Chiwda

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Dahi chiwda is a delicacy prepared during Makar Sankranti. It is a mixture of flattened rice and curd with powdered jaggery or sugar. People avoid sugar and use jaggery most of the time. After performing the Daan Dakshina, people eat the black sesame ladoos and Dahi chiwda as tradition. In some parts of North India, Dahi chiwda is served with seasonal vegetables.

5. Flying Kites

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Makar Sankranti is incomplete without flying kites. The colorful kites smeared across the bright blue sky is magical, and people wait to witness this beauty. Many people make their own kites instead of buying them. Kids, parents, and grandparents come together and fly kites in the morning hours of the day. It is considered healthy and beneficial to the body as it exposes the body to the sun’s morning rays and gives you a healthy dose of vitamin D. It is believed to cleanse your body from winter sickness and make you healthy for the spring. Kite flying is also a great family bonding activity that members of every age can enjoy.

While every festival has its own significance, Makar Sankranti is known for its delicious sesame ladoos, dal khichdi, and mouth-watering pakoras. It’s the most awaited harvest festival in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated with excitement and joy. We hope this Makar Sankranti brings you joy, prosperity, health, and wealth. Being the first festival of the year, how are you planning to spend this auspicious day? Comment below and let us know.

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