Happy Makar Sankranti 2020! The harvest festival of India is here. Let's celebrate the special day by eating til-gud laddoos and flying colourful kites high in the sky. While that is the fun part of the celebration, the festival holds important significance in the Hindu calendar. The day is considered extremely auspicious that marks the beginning of all the holy events of the year. However, if you know anything about the Hindu culture, you will know that black is considered an "ashubh" or ominous colour. Be it weddings or any puja, no one sports the colour black. Then why do people in India wear the colour black on Makar Sankranti? It is said that one must wear black on Makar Sankranti for good luck, but why is it so? Let's discuss. Makar Sankranti 2020: 5 Things You Should Do On The Harvest Festival For Good Luck.

Why Do People Wear Black Clothes On Makar Sankranti?

According to Hindu mythology, on this day the Sun is said to enters the Capricorn aka Makara Rashi. It is also from this day, it is believed the winter season comes to an end and autumn begins. Since it is the celebration of the winter season coming to an end, in the earlier days people used to wear black to keep themselves warm. It is believed that the black colour absorbs the heat and helps retain the heat in the body. Therefore, people wear black clothes on this day so that they can protect themselves from the chilly winter air and celebrate the festival. While that is a scientific explanation according to mythology, black is said to be the favourite colour of Shani Dev (Lord Shani). People offer prayers to Lord Shani on this day and to make him happy, people wear black coloured clothes.

However, people of Maharashtra follow the rule more strictly that the rest of the country. Indian festivals are said to have a connection with the season they are celebrated in. Makar Sankranti is celebrated by different names such as Lohri in Punjab and Pongal in Tamil, throughout the country. The name may be different but the way to celebrate the festival is more or less the same.  It is a festival of happiness and on this day people wear new clothes, make dishes at home and fly kites together.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 15, 2020 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).