Names of Makar Sankranti Festival In India

Makar Sankranti is a festival dedicated to Sun God and observed in the month of Magha (January of Gregorian calendar) is a festival of harvest, when the Sun transit into Makara Rashi (Capricorn). It marks the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days means the end of the winter season and the commencement of spring.

From the Makar Sankranthi, Sun begins to move towards the northern hemisphere of the earth, which makes the season more pleasant, which is also good for crops and for auspicious celebrations. and also nights are short and Days seem long. As we know that India is situated in the northern hemisphere on earth, so this day has special significance for India.

It is celebrated not only in India but also in Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and being a festival observed according to solar cycles, it always falls on the same GGregorian date every year (January 14/15) except for some years when it is shifted one or two days.

The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated in all parts of India but with different names and every state has its style of traditions to celebrate the festival, but the essence remains the same. In Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti is known as Pedda Panduga, Makar Sankranti in North & Karnataka, Magh Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in the regions of central and north India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu. A day prior to Makar Sankranti is Lohri, a harvest festival of Punjabi. These are spring festivals, enjoyed with lots of outdoor activities that keep up close to Nature and remind us of how closely we are bonded with our environment.

Across India, you can see people on their terraces and fly colorful kites. In most parts of India, this time is known as an early stage of the Rabi crop and agricultural cycle, where crops have been sowed and the hard work in the agricultural fields is mainly over.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the Sun (Surya Dev) pays a visit on this day to his Son Shani Dev (Saturn) who is the lord of the Capricorn zodiac sign (Makar Rashi) according to both Hindu and Western astrology. It is also believed that the Lord Vishnu triumphed over the demons on this day of Makar Sankranti. The sacred story says that on this day Lord Vishnu beheaded the demons and buried them under the Mandara Parvat that signifies the victory of justice over injustice.

Overall Makar Sankranti 2021 means a period of socializing and family get-togethers, taking care of the farming, cattle, and celebrating around bonfires, delicious food items, and flying kites.

Makar Sankranti and its Synonyms or regional variations

The Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India with a different name. The different cultures and customs have different ways and means to celebrate the festival.

Suggi Habba (सुग्गी हब्बा), Makara Sankramana, Makara Sankranthi: Karnataka
Makar Sankranti (मकर संक्रान्ति): Chhattisgarh, Goa, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Jammu
Thai Pongal, Uzhavar Thirunal (உஜாவர் திருனல்): Tamil Nadu
Uttarayan (उत्तरायण): Gujarat
Maghi (मगही): Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
Magh Bihu (माघ बिहू) or Bhogali Bihu: Assam.
Shishur Saenkraat (शिशुर सेंक्रात): Kashmir Valley.
Khichdi (खिचड़ी): Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar.
Poush Sangkranti (पौष संक्रान्ति): West Bengal.

This is also celebrated in countries where is a Hindu population.

Poush Sangkranthi/ Shakrain: Bangladesh
Maghe Sankranti or Maghi- /Khichdi Sankranti: Nepal
Tirmoori: Pakistan (Sindh)
Moha Sangkran: Cambodia
Pongal, Uzhavar Thirunal: Sri Lanka
Thingyan: Myanmar
Pi Ma Lao: Laos
Songkran: Thailand

This is how Makar Sankranti is known by different names across the country among people of different cultures. Though they call it by different names and the rituals differ from one place to the other, the indomitable spirit makes Makar Sankranti an auspicious occasion in India.

There are much fun, fairs, or Mela takes place across different states in India. The fair that happens in Odisha is called Makar Mela, Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh (held every 12 years at one of four holy locations, namely Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nashik), Gangasagar Mela that takes place where the river Ganga has flown to the Bay of Bengal. Poush Mela is a celebration that takes place in the Shantiniketan in West Bengal. Makara Mela in Odisha. Tusu Mela also called Tusu Porab is celebrated in many parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The festival Makar Sankranti is celebrated for 4 days in South India.