Makar Sankranti 2023
Makar Sankranti is a very auspicious day in Hindu mythology. Also known by the names Makara Sankranti, Makarasankranti and Makar Sankrant, the festival is of high imortance because of the shifting of the Sun (Surya) into ‘Makara rashi’ – the zodiac sign which relates to Capricorn. When sun goes from one sun sign and enters another, it is known by the name of ‘Sankranti.’ The word "Sankranti" in Sanskrit means ‘to cross into’. Thus, Makar Sankranti is the day when sun enters into the Makar rashi or the Capricorn sign. On this day of Makara Sankranti, sun enters into the Northern Hemisphere, it is called as Uttarayana. This Uttarayan festival of Gujarat starts on the Makar Sankranti day and continues for six-month long.
Makara Sankranti is observed in the Hindu month of Paush in North India, Magh in Bengal, Dhanu in Kerala and Margazhi in Tamil Nadu.
Makar Sankranti falls on the January 14th or January 15th every year but slowly this day of Sankrant is moving and Makar Sankranti will occur on 23rd March in 7015, around 5000 years from now. Hindu calendar follows lunar calendar, meaning it is based on the moon.
Significance/Importance of Makar Sankranti
Of the 12 Sankranti's in the Hindu Calendar year, Makar Sankranti is the most important Sankrant among all and holds a lot of spiritual significance and importance for Hindus. Surya or Sun God is worshiped on this day of Makar Sankranti. People chant the Gayatri Mantra, Surya Mantra and other mantra's while offering water to Surya god.
The coming of Makar Sankranti indicates the coming up of spring season in the northern hemisphere and the end of winter season. This time is highly auspicious and is known as Uttarayan Punyakalam. The six months after Makar Sankranti, are longer and warmer.
Makara Sankranti has also a different meaning. ‘Makar’ refers to crocodile and Sankranti means ‘to change.’ The crocodile is the materialistic world and ‘Sankranti’ is when there the time comes to get away from the materialistic world.
Uttarayana is the six month long festival that starts on the Makar Sankranti day. Uttarayana is referred to as the daytime of the Devas and that is why auspicious activities starts during this time.
The importance of Makar Sankranti also lies in the fact that Bhishma Pitamaha of Mahabharata died on this day of Uttarayan as Bhisma Pitamah had a boon that he will die only when he wishes. So, he choose this day of Uttarayana. It is of the belief that people who die during Uttarayana merges with the God, thus ending the cycle of rebirth.
It is also understood that Lord Vishnu buried Asuras under the Mandara Mountain on this Uttaryana day signifying the end of evil. On the next day of Makar Sankrant, Krishna is worshipped in South India as there is a belief that Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain on the day after the Makar Sankrant.
King Bhageeratha brought down river Ganga into Patala on Makara Sankranti day to get moksha or salvation for his ancestors. Makara Sankranti is also one of the important bathing dates during Kumbh Mela and Magh Mela and lakhs of people take bath in the Ganges river.
According to Puranas, on this Makar Sankranti date, God Surya visits Shani, who is the son of Surya.
Things to do on Makar Sankranthi Day
As Makara Sankranti is the festival associated with Surya, people must offer water to Surya and recite the Gayatri Mantra and/or Surya Mantra's. As Surya visits his son Shani on Makar Sankranti day, people must visit their sons and give them gifts, if possible. Pople must make a fresh begining on this day and forget any misunderstandings if any. People make ‘khichadi’ on this day. Some make Til sweets and dishes and Rice meal.
Makar Sankrati is a festival associated with harvest in the whole of India. So people pray for a good harvest. Cows are worshipped and people do charity work like offering food, Moong Dal, rice, ghee, Til etc.to poor persons and needy. One of the most important event is the kite flying in Jaipur, and the whole of Rajasthan, Gujarat.
Makar Sankranti in Different States of India
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the whole of India with different names. Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Sankranthi - Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as a harvest festival. Makara Sankranti itself in Karnataka, Uttarayan in Gujarat. Til Gud is exchanged in Maharashtra. Pilgrimage to the famous Sabarimala Temple also ends on this day in Kerala. It is known as Pithey parban in West Bengal, along with the famous Ganga Sagar mela. Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu in Assam, Maghi in Punjab, Jammu and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Khicadi Parv and Sankranti in Uttar Pradesh Makar Mela in Orissa.
Makar Sakranti SMS Quotes-Messages 2023
Wishing you a very Happy lohri & Makar sakranti as well.
May this harvest season bring you prosperity
n help you to fly high like a kite,
let's celebrate together .
Bajare ki roti
Nimbu ka achar
Suraj ki kirne
Chand ki chandani aur apno ka pyaar.
Har jeevan ho khushal
Mubarak ho aapko "makar sankranti ka tyohar.
Makar Sannkrati ke din aapke jeevan ka andhera chhat jaye
aevam gyan aur prakash se aapka jeevan ujjwal ho jaye!
With Great Devotion,
Fervor and Gaiety,
With Rays of Joy and Hope,
Wish You and Your Family,
Happy Makar Sankranti!
S: Sucess
A: Achievement
N: Naturalness
K: Kite
R: Realization
A: Attainment
N: Naturalness
T: Triumph
I: Intelligent…..Happy makar Sankranti
Tan mein masti
Mann mein umang.
Dekar sabko apnapan
Gud mein jaise meethapan.
Hokar saath hum Udayen PATANG
Aur bhar len aakash mein apne rang.
Aapko aur aapke parivar ko Makar Sankranti ki Haardik Shubhkaamnaye!
Meethe gur mein mil gaye til,
Udi patang aur khil gaye dil,
Har pal sukh aur har din shaanti,
Aap sab ke liye laaye Makar Sankranti.
When is Makar Sankranti 2023? Makar Sankranti Dates
Makar Sankranti 2023 Date and Timings
Makar Sankranti 2023 Date - Sunday, 15th January, 2023
Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal Muhurta - 07:15 AM to 5:46 PM
Makar Sankranti Mahapunya Kaal Muhurta - 07:15 AM to 09:00 AM
Makar Sankranti Punya Kaal and Mahapunya Kaal Time are highly auspicious timings to perform good deeds like offering water and food to sun god, taking bath in the holy river Ganga, feeding and offering food to the needy etc. Mahapunya Kaal time is preferred more than Punya Kaal time.
Happy Makar Sankranti!
