Makar Sankranti 2025: Know the date, time, rituals, history, and significance of harvest festival

Makar Sankranti 2025: Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on January 14, except during a leap year when it falls on January 15. This festival marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara), signifying the start of the Sun's northward journey. It is considered an auspicious time, symbolising positivity and new beginnings, and has been celebrated with joy and enthusiasm for generations.

Makar Sankranti 2025: Time

• Makar Sankranti Moment: 09:03 AM, January 14, 2025

Makar Sankranti 2025: Rituals

Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India with various unique rituals in different regions:

• In North India, it is known as Lohri, where people gather around bonfires, singing folk songs, dancing, and feasting to celebrate the harvest season.
• In South India, the festival is celebrated as Pongal. The celebration lasts for several days, and people prepare the special dish called Pongal and offer thanks for the harvest.
• In West India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, kite flying is the highlight of the celebration. People take to rooftops to fly colourful kites in honour of the Sun's northward journey.
• In East India, particularly in West Bengal, the Ganga Sagar Mela is held. Devotees take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, symbolising purification and renewal.

Makar Sankranti 2025: History:

Makar Sankranti marks the end of the winter season and the start of a new farming cycle. People celebrate this day to thank nature for the harvest and pray for good luck in the coming year. There are many stories behind the festival, including one where Lord Shani and Lord Surya made peace, symbolising balance. Another story is about King Bhagiratha, who brought the Ganges River to Earth to purify his ancestors, symbolising cleansing and fresh beginnings. These stories make Makar Sankranti a day of gratitude, renewal, and spiritual meaning.

Makar Sankranti 2025: Significance:

Makar Sankranti holds great importance not just from an astronomical and mythological perspective, but also symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair. The festival is a time for renewal, expressing gratitude, and celebrating the bounties of life. It also marks the start of a new agricultural cycle, making it a time to offer thanks for the harvest and pray for prosperity in the year ahead.