Mumbai, January 12: Makar Sankranti is an auspicious festival that is celebrated across India with great pomp and gaiety. The auspicious festival is also known as harvest and kite flying festival. It denotes the entrance of the sun into zodiac sign Makar (Capricorn) as it travels on its celestial path. The festival refers both to a specific solar day in the Hindu calendar and a Hindu festival about deity Surya (sun) that is observed in January every year. The festival also marks the end of winter season and coincides with Lohri, Pongal and Bhogali Bihu.

Makar Sankranti Date, Time and Mahurat

Makar Sankranti, the kite flying festival will be celebrated on January 14, an annual festival commemorated every year on the same date. On this auspicious day, many devotees take a dip in the holy river to wash away their sins. The kite festival is being celebrated across the nation with great zeal and determination. People meet and greet their loved ones and celebrate the most auspicious occasion. Many take a holy dip in the river to wash away their sins on this pious day.

On the festival of Makar Sankranti, people meet and greet their loved ones and celebrate the most auspicious occasions with great zeal, enthusiasm, and devotion. The muhurat of the auspicious occasion starts at 2.00 PM and will continue till 5.41 PM. The duration of the festival is 3 hours and 41 mins.

Significance

Makar Sankranti is a festival that is being celebrated in India under various of names. The festival is celebrated to honour the god of the sun, Surya. Though often relegated to a secondary position relative to the three prominent Hindu deities- Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.

The auspicious festival heralds the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Through the next six months, called the Uttarayana period, the days will become longer and warmer, and the whole period is considered an auspicious time. The festival is being celebrated under various names across India. In Tamil Nadu Makar Sankranti or Sankranthi is known as Pongal. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, Makar Sankranti is known as Uttarayana. In Haryana and Punjab, Makar Sankranti is known as Maghi.

During this auspicious festival, people usually chant Om Suryay Namah (ॐ सूर्याय नमः) mantra while performing Pooja. It is believed that the Pooja brings in prosperity and happiness.

Sankranti activities, like taking bath, offering food (Naivedhya) to the deity to Lord Surya, offering charity or Dakshina, performing pooja rituals and breaking fast or Parana, should be done during Punya Kaal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 12, 2018 04:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).