Feature by Shalaka Aunty
Makar Sankranti and Pratham Baisakh – 14th January and 14th April, are special days.
Why are they special?
1. While most Indian festivals are based on the lunar calendar, these festivals are based on the solar calendar, and so fall on the same dates of the Gregorian calendar (which is also a solar calendar) every year.
2. While most Indian festivals are regional – e.g., Diwali and Teej are more prominent in the North, Dussera is huge in the South, Navratri and these two festivals are very important in every part of India.
Makar Sankranti falls on 14th January every year. In this feature, Shalaka aunty shares how it is celebrated in Maharashtra.
The belief in this wish is that the sweetness of the til ladoos will dissolve all the negativity and sourness of any relationship. Along with this, we also make puran-poli which is a flat bread stuffed with jaggery and gram flour in it with pure ghee. We wish all the elders and other family members before we head out to wish our friends.
People celebrate Makar Sankranti for three days in Maharashtra and each day has a different importance.
The first day is known as Bhogi. This is when the sun god is worshipped and people step out of the house in the morning to fly kites.
The second day is called Sankranti and on this day, married women dress up in ethnic wear and have a get-together called Haldi-Kumkum which translates to turmeric-vermilion and also gift each other household items that range from utensils to clothes, etc. The get-together usually takes place in the evening.
The last day is called Kinkrant.
Makar Sankranti is considered a very auspicious time and people buy new things especially of high value such as possession/ housewarming of new property, car etc. We also thank Saraswati, goddess of knowledge on this day. The festival is one of the most celebrated in Maharashtra besides Ganesh Chaturthi.