The New Year has started, and it's time to celebrate the first festival of the first month. Yes, it's January 14, the festival of Makar Sankranti. Aren't you all excited to celebrate the festival? But, have you ever wondered what Makar Sankranti is? Why and how is it celebrated around the country?
What is Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti celebrates the sun's journey into the northern hemisphere, and the start of spring. It marks the start of warmer and longer days as compared to the nights.
Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
Dadashri Says:
• The main motive behind celebrating Makar Sankranti is not just flying kites. Besides the fun and enjoyment, we get lots of vitamin D while we are exposed to the sun, which is good for our health.
• When the rays of the sun, fall in our eyes, they can heal all the ailments related to the eyes.
Different ways of celebration across India
NORTH INDIA
The festival of Sankranti is known as Lohri in the North. December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India. Hence, huge bonfires are lit for warmth on the eve of Sankranti and friends and family get together and dance around the fire.
The bonfires are a symbol of burning away (getting over) the unpleasant things that happened in the past year and welcome the new beginnings that are full of purity, knowledge and wisdom.
SOUTH INDIA
In South, Sankranti is celebrated as the harvest festival of Pongal. It lasts for 3 days. Prayers and prasad (food offered to God) are offered to the different Gods to thank them for helping to grow the crops.
WEST INDIA
Sankranti is celebrated with great fervor in Western India, where it is called as "Uttarayan". Children and adults enjoy flying kites. Lot of kite-flying competitions are also organized on that day.
Aren't these ways of celebration interesting?
You will also be amazed to know that our minds are also like these colorful kites. You already know that the strong kites can fly high all day long, while the weaker ones are cut soon and they fall back to the ground.
Likewise, positive thoughts help us succeed in whatever we set out to do and negative thoughts hinder our progress.
Aren't these ways of celebration interesting?
You will also be amazed to know that our minds are also like these colorful kites. You already know that the strong kites can fly high all day long, while the weaker ones are cut soon and they fall back to the ground.
Likewise, positive thoughts help us succeed in whatever we set out to do and negative thoughts hinder our progress.
So friends, let us keep our kite soaring higher and higher through our positive attitude.
Also see:-
Moral Story: The kite flying festival
Video: Importance of Makar Sankranti
