MAKAR SANKRANTI – AN INDIAN FESTIVAL
MAKAR SANKRANTI – AN INDIAN FESTIVAL
Makar Sankranti is a significant festival in India, celebrated on 14th January each year to mark the transition of the Sun into the Capricorn (Makara) zodiac sign, heralding the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. It holds both mythological and scientific importance and is celebrated differently across India, reflecting the country’s rich cultural diversity.
Mythological Significance
- Hindu Scriptures:
- The day is believed to mark the end of inauspicious months and the beginning of an auspicious phase in Hindu culture, referred to as Uttarayana.
- According to the Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamaha chose to leave his mortal body on Makar Sankranti, believing that those who die during Uttarayana attain liberation (Moksha).
- Legends of Lord Surya:
- The festival celebrates the Sun God (Surya) and his blessings on the Earth. It signifies the reunion of Surya and his son Shani (Saturn), despite their differences.
- Another legend links it to Lord Vishnu’s triumph over demons and the end of evil practices, symbolizing victory and the removal of darkness.
Scientific Significance
- Solar Transition:
- Makar Sankranti marks the winter solstice’s end, as the Sun begins its journey northward (Uttarayana). This signifies the start of longer days and shorter nights.
- It is an indicator of the change in seasons, with the Sun’s movement affecting agricultural activities in India.
- Harvest Festival:
- The timing coincides with the harvest season for many crops such as sugarcane, rice, and sesame, making it a celebration of abundance and prosperity.
Regional Celebrations in India
The festival is celebrated under various names with unique customs across India:
Northern India
- Punjab (Lohri):
- Celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti, Lohri is marked with bonfires, folk songs, and dance. It symbolizes the harvest of sugarcane.
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar:
- Known as Khichdi Parv, people take holy dips in the Ganga, donate items, and eat khichdi (a rice-lentil dish).
Western India
- Gujarat:
- Celebrated as Uttarayan, it is famous for kite flying. The sky becomes vibrant with colorful kites.
- Rajasthan:
- People exchange til-gud (sesame and jaggery) sweets and fly kites.
Southern India
- Tamil Nadu (Pongal):
- A four-day festival, Pongal involves boiling new rice and offering it to Sun God. It includes Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Mattu Pongal.
- Karnataka:
- Families exchange ellund-bella (sesame and jaggery), symbolizing sweetness and harmony.
Eastern India
- West Bengal:
- Known as Poush Sankranti, it includes making pithe-puli sweets and celebrating with fairs like Ganga Sagar Mela at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal.
- Odisha:
- It is called Makara Chaula, where newly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery are offered to the deities.
Central India
- Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh:
- People celebrate with traditional foods like til laddoos, and fairs are organized.
Maharashtra:
- Families exchange til-gul laddoos with the phrase, “Tilgul ghya, god god bola,” meaning “Take sesame and jaggery, and speak sweetly.”
Northeastern India
- Assam (Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu):
- It involves community feasts, bonfires, and traditional games like buffalo fights.
Conclusion
Makar Sankranti is a celebration of harvest, nature, and renewal, blending spirituality with practicality. Its diverse traditions across India highlight its cultural richness and universal reverence for nature’s cycles.
50 MCQs on Makar Sankranti
- What is the significance of Makar Sankranti in Hindu culture?
- (a) It marks the end of auspicious months
- (b) It marks the beginning of inauspicious months
- (c) It marks the end of inauspicious months
- (d) It marks the middle of the year
Correct Answer: (c) It marks the end of inauspicious months
- Which zodiac sign does the Sun enter on Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Aries
- (b) Capricorn
- (c) Sagittarius
- (d) Libra
Correct Answer: (b) Capricorn
- Which phase begins with Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Dakshinayana
- (b) Uttarayana
- (c) Grahan
- (d) Poush
Correct Answer: (b) Uttarayana
- In which Indian epic is the story of Bhishma Pitamaha’s death on Makar Sankranti mentioned?
- (a) Ramayana
- (b) Mahabharata
- (c) Bhagavata Purana
- (d) Rigveda
Correct Answer: (b) Mahabharata
- Makar Sankranti marks the end of which solstice?
- (a) Summer
- (b) Winter
- (c) Spring
- (d) Autumn
Correct Answer: (b) Winter
- Who is primarily worshipped on Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Lord Shiva
- (b) Sun God (Surya)
- (c) Lord Vishnu
- (d) Goddess Lakshmi
Correct Answer: (b) Sun God (Surya)
- What food items are commonly exchanged during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Fruits
- (b) Rice and curry
- (c) Sesame and jaggery
- (d) Sweets made of coconut
Correct Answer: (c) Sesame and jaggery
- What is Makar Sankranti called in Tamil Nadu?
- (a) Lohri
- (b) Pongal
- (c) Magh Bihu
- (d) Uttarayan
Correct Answer: (b) Pongal
- Which festival is celebrated in Punjab around Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Lohri
- (b) Pongal
- (c) Ganga Sagar Mela
- (d) Bhogali Bihu
Correct Answer: (a) Lohri
- What is the famous activity associated with Makar Sankranti in Gujarat?
- (a) Bonfire
- (b) Kite flying
- (c) Wrestling
- (d) Buffalo fights
Correct Answer: (b) Kite flying
- Which Indian state celebrates Magh Bihu during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Tamil Nadu
- (b) Assam
- (c) Gujarat
- (d) Rajasthan
Correct Answer: (b) Assam
- What is the name of the rice-lentil dish eaten in Uttar Pradesh during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Pongal
- (b) Khichdi
- (c) Biryani
- (d) Pulao
Correct Answer: (b) Khichdi
- What phrase is commonly exchanged in Maharashtra during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Tilgul ghya, god god bola
- (b) Shubh Sankranti
- (c) Jai Surya Dev
- (d) Pongal O Pongal
Correct Answer: (a) Tilgul ghya, god god bola
- What is offered during Poush Sankranti in West Bengal?
- (a) Til laddoos
- (b) Pithe-puli sweets
- (c) Ghee and rice
- (d) Milk and honey
Correct Answer: (b) Pithe-puli sweets
- Which fair is organized in West Bengal during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Pushkar Mela
- (b) Kumbh Mela
- (c) Ganga Sagar Mela
- (d) Surajkund Mela
Correct Answer: (c) Ganga Sagar Mela
- What is the significance of til (sesame) and jaggery during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Represents wealth and prosperity
- (b) Symbolizes sweetness and harmony
- (c) Marks the harvest of sugarcane
- (d) Represents victory over darkness
Correct Answer: (b) Symbolizes sweetness and harmony
- What is the Tamil Nadu festival Pongal associated with?
- (a) Marriage celebrations
- (b) Harvesting crops
- (c) Pilgrimages
- (d) New Year celebrations
Correct Answer: (b) Harvesting crops
- What type of games are played in Assam during Bhogali Bihu?
- (a) Kite flying
- (b) Buffalo fights
- (c) Kabaddi
- (d) Archery
Correct Answer: (b) Buffalo fights
- Which deity is offered newly harvested rice and jaggery in Odisha during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Goddess Lakshmi
- (b) Lord Jagannath
- (c) Sun God
- (d) Lord Vishnu
Correct Answer: (d) Lord Vishnu
- What does the phrase “Pongal O Pongal” signify?
- (a) Welcome to the Sun God
- (b) The joy of a good harvest
- (c) A call for unity
- (d) End of winter
Correct Answer: (b) The joy of a good harvest
- What is the term used for Makar Sankranti in Karnataka?
- (a) Mattu Pongal
- (b) Ellu-Bella
- (c) Lohri
- (d) Magh Bihu
Correct Answer: (b) Ellu-Bella
- Which festival in Assam is marked by community feasts and bonfires?
- (a) Bhogali Bihu
- (b) Ganga Sagar Mela
- (c) Poush Sankranti
- (d) Pongal
Correct Answer: (a) Bhogali Bihu
- What is the traditional food prepared in Tamil Nadu during Pongal?
- (a) Khichdi
- (b) Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal)
- (c) Pithe-Puli
- (d) Til Laddoo
Correct Answer: (b) Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal)
- What is the symbolic meaning of Uttarayana in Hindu culture?
- (a) Shorter days and longer nights
- (b) Movement towards light and knowledge
- (c) Beginning of winter
- (d) End of the harvest season
Correct Answer: (b) Movement towards light and knowledge
- In which Indian state is the phrase “Tilgul ghya, god god bola” popular?
- (a) Gujarat
- (b) Maharashtra
- (c) Tamil Nadu
- (d) Punjab
Correct Answer: (b) Maharashtra
- What activity symbolizes joy and unity in Gujarat during Uttarayan?
- (a) Bonfires
- (b) Feasting
- (c) Kite flying
- (d) Wrestling
Correct Answer: (c) Kite flying
- What is the name of the festival celebrated in Odisha on Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Poush Sankranti
- (b) Magh Bihu
- (c) Makara Chaula
- (d) Lohri
Correct Answer: (c) Makara Chaula
- Which element of nature does Makar Sankranti celebrate?
- (a) Fire
- (b) Water
- (c) Sun
- (d) Earth
Correct Answer: (c) Sun
- What is the significance of Ganga Sagar Mela during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Worship of Lord Shiva
- (b) Pilgrimage to the Ganges-Bay of Bengal confluence
- (c) Kite flying competition
- (d) Community harvest feast
Correct Answer: (b) Pilgrimage to the Ganges-Bay of Bengal confluence
- Which sweet is widely prepared during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Gulab Jamun
- (b) Tilgul (Sesame and jaggery sweets)
- (c) Rasgulla
- (d) Kheer
Correct Answer: (b) Tilgul (Sesame and jaggery sweets)
- In which region is Pithe-Puli a traditional dish during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Maharashtra
- (b) West Bengal
- (c) Punjab
- (d) Tamil Nadu
Correct Answer: (b) West Bengal
- What is Mattu Pongal in Tamil Nadu associated with?
- (a) Harvesting crops
- (b) Worshiping cattle
- (c) Pilgrimages
- (d) Traditional dances
Correct Answer: (b) Worshiping cattle
- Which astrological transition occurs during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Moon entering Libra
- (b) Sun entering Capricorn
- (c) Venus entering Aquarius
- (d) Saturn entering Pisces
Correct Answer: (b) Sun entering Capricorn
- What type of fairs are held during Makar Sankranti in India?
- (a) Book fairs
- (b) Harvest fairs
- (c) Spiritual and cultural fairs
- (d) Handicraft fairs
Correct Answer: (c) Spiritual and cultural fairs
- What is the common ritual performed at the Ganga Sagar Mela?
- (a) Bonfire
- (b) Holy dip in the Ganges
- (c) Offering food to cattle
- (d) Planting trees
Correct Answer: (b) Holy dip in the Ganges
- Which Indian state celebrates Lohri before Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Punjab
- (b) Bihar
- (c) Gujarat
- (d) Karnataka
Correct Answer: (a) Punjab
- What marks the end of Dakshinayana?
- (a) Makar Sankranti
- (b) Diwali
- (c) Holi
- (d) Pongal
Correct Answer: (a) Makar Sankranti
- In Rajasthan, what activity is a key part of Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Camel racing
- (b) Kite flying
- (c) Wrestling
- (d) Singing folk songs
Correct Answer: (b) Kite flying
- Which celestial body is central to the celebration of Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Moon
- (b) Sun
- (c) Jupiter
- (d) Mars
Correct Answer: (b) Sun
- In Karnataka, what does the exchange of Ellu-Bella symbolize?
- (a) Prosperity and growth
- (b) Sweetness and harmony
- (c) Unity and strength
- (d) Victory and courage
Correct Answer: (b) Sweetness and harmony
- What is the four-day celebration of Pongal in Tamil Nadu known for?
- (a) Cultural dances
- (b) Religious pilgrimages
- (c) Traditional food offerings
- (d) All of the above
Correct Answer: (d) All of the above
- Which month in the Hindu calendar is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
- (a) Chaitra
- (b) Kartik
- (c) Magha
- (d) Poush
Correct Answer: (d) Poush
- What agricultural activity does Makar Sankranti coincide with?
- (a) Planting seeds
- (b) Harvesting crops
- (c) Irrigation
- (d) Selling crops
Correct Answer: (b) Harvesting crops
- What is Bhogali Bihu primarily associated with?
- (a) Worship of the Sun
- (b) Feasting and bonfires
- (c) Kite flying competitions
- (d) Traditional fairs
Correct Answer: (b) Feasting and bonfires
- What is the primary offering made during Makara Chaula in Odisha?
- (a) Sugarcane
- (b) Rice and jaggery
- (c) Fruits
- (d) Flowers
Correct Answer: (b) Rice and jaggery
- What marks the transition from darkness to light in Hindu belief during Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Uttarayana
- (b) Dakshinayana
- (c) Solstice
- (d) Lunar phase
Correct Answer: (a) Uttarayana
- What is the central theme of Makar Sankranti?
- (a) Family reunion
- (b) Worshiping gods
- (c) Celebration of harvest and Sun
- (d) Victory of good over evil
Correct Answer: (c) Celebration of harvest and Sun
- Which state organizes large fairs during Makar Sankranti at the confluence of the Ganges?
- (a) Uttar Pradesh
- (b) West Bengal
- (c) Bihar
- (d) Assam
Correct Answer: (b) West Bengal
- What does the phrase “Tilgul ghya, god god bola” literally mean?
- (a) Eat sweets and praise God
- (b) Take sesame and jaggery, and speak sweetly
- (c) Worship the Sun and Moon
- (d) Harvest crops and celebrate
Correct Answer: (b) Take sesame and jaggery, and speak sweetly
- Which of the following is a universal symbol of Makar Sankranti celebrations across India?
- (a) Worship of cows
- (b) Use of sesame and jaggery
- (c) Kite flying
- (d) Lighting diyas
Correct Answer: (b) Use of sesame and jaggery
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