Makar Sankranti 2023 – Dates, History, Major Attractions
Each year, India celebrates Makar Sankranti, one of the most important festivals on the Hindu calendar. It’s a time for people to come together and enjoy celebrations that bring joy and prosperity. While Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India, there are some cities where the festivities are truly something special. From flying kites to taking part in cultural activities, these cities know how to put their own unique spin on the traditional holiday. Read on to learn more about some of India’s most vibrant cities that celebrate Makar Sankranti like no other place.
History Of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is a popular Hindu festival that is celebrated in several parts of India. The festival is observed on the 14th of January every year and marks the beginning of the sun’s journey toward the north. Makar Sankranti is considered to be an auspicious occasion by Hindus and is celebrated with great fervor and joy.
The city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is considered to be one of the most sacred cities in India and Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great pomp and show here. Devotees from all over the country flock to Ujjain to take a holy dip in the river Shipra on this day. The city comes alive with colors during Makar Sankranti as people can be seen flying kites, dancing, and singing traditional folk songs.
Another city that celebrates Makar Sankranti with great enthusiasm is Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The city comes alive with colors during this festival as people can be seen flying kites, playing games, and shopping for new clothes. A special delicacy called Undhiyu which is a mix of various vegetables cooked together is prepared on this day and served with Puri (a deep-fried flatbread).
In Maharashtra, Pune is the city that celebrates Makar Sankranti with great gusto. The city comes to a standstill on this day as people can be seen flying kites, playing games and fe
Major Attractions Of Makar Sankranti Celebration 2023
Makar Sankranti is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the transition of the sun into the Capricorn zodiac sign. Makar Sankranti is usually celebrated on January 14th every year, and Makar Sankranti 2023 will be no different. The festival is celebrated in many parts of India, but these cities celebrate Makar Sankranti like no other place!
Ujjain:
The city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is one of the most popular places to celebrate Makar Sankranti. The Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located here. On Makar Sankranti, devotees from all over India flock to the temple to offer prayers and take a dip in the holy waters of the Shipra River.
Kumbh Mela:
Held once every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela is a massive religious gathering that takes place at different locations along the banks of sacred rivers in India. The next Kumbh Mela will be held in 2025, but on Makar Sankranthi 2023, a mini-Kumbh Mela will be held in Allahabad. This ‘ Ardha Kumbh Mela’ or ‘half-Kumbh Mela’ is still a grand affair, with millions of pilgrims expected to attend.
Pushkar:
Pushkar, a small town in the state of Rajasthan, is home to one of the most popular fairs in India. The Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Mela takes place for seven days in the month of Kartik (November-December) every year and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. On Makar Sankranti 2023, devotees will flock to this religious town and take part in various activities like cattle trading, camel races and cultural events. Book Pushkar fair tour packages from Vacation Trip India and get special discount on instant booking.
Kolkata:
Kolkata is known as ‘the city of joy’, and people from all over India gather here to celebrate Makar Sankranti with great enthusiasm. During this festive time, the city is lit up with colorful lights and decorations, while traditional sweets made from sesame seeds, coconut and jaggery are sold everywhere. Kolkata also hosts several cultural events during Makar Sankranti such as kite-flying competitions and folk dance performances.
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Jaipur
Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Jaipur. The festival is celebrated on the 14th of January every year, and it marks the beginning of the sun’s journey towards the north. It is also the day when the winter season ends and spring begins.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great gusto in Jaipur. The city comes alive with colorful processions and festivities. People dress up in traditional clothes and take part in various cultural activities. There are also a lot of food stalls that sell traditional Rajasthani snacks and sweets. Make your plan Golden Triangle Tour with Rajasthan and cover all these 3 major cities Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
The highlight of Makar Sankranti celebrations in Jaipur is the kite flying competition. It is a sight to behold as hundreds of kites fill up the sky, each one trying to outdo the other. The festival is a time for joy and celebration, and it brings people from all walks of life together.
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, the city of Gujarat, celebrates Makar Sankranti with great joy and enthusiasm. People gather at the Sabarmati Ashram to fly kites and celebrate the occasion. The entire city is decorated with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes.
Makar Sankranti is a very important festival in the Hindu calendar. It marks the beginning of the sun’s northward journey or the uttarayan period. This day also marks the end of the harvest season and is celebrated as a thanksgiving day for all the hard work put in by farmers throughout the year.
In Ahmedabad, the celebrations begin a week before Makar Sankranti. Kite flying competitions are organized across different parts of the city and people participate in large numbers. On Makar Sankranti day, people wake up early and offer prayers to the sun god. They then head to rooftops or open spaces to fly kites till late in the evening.
The skies of Ahmedabad are filled with colourful kites on Makar Sankranti and it is truly a sight to behold!
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Hyderabad
Hyderabad is known for its colorful festivals and celebrations. Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, is one of the most popular festivals in Hyderabad. The city comes alive with colors during this time of year. People dress up in traditional clothes and take part in various cultural activities. The highlight of the festival is the kite flying competition, which is held every year on the banks of the Hussain Sagar Lake.
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Haridwar
Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India and is celebrated with great pomp and fervour in the city of Haridwar. This festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated by flying kites, playing traditional games, feasting on delicious food and taking a dip in the holy river Ganges. The celebrations start a few days before Makar Sankranti and continue till Lohri, which is another popular festival celebrated in North India.
One of the main attractions of Makar Sankranti celebrations in Haridwar is the grand fair that is held at the Sant Nischal Das Ashram near Har-ki-Pauri. This fair is visited by people from all over India and is known for its colourful stalls selling traditional handicrafts, clothes, food and other items. There are also a number of fun activities for children such as rides, puppet shows and magic shows.
Another highlight of Makar Sankranti celebrations in Haridwar is the special puja that is performed at the Vishnu Ghat. This puja is conducted by priests who chant mantras and offer flowers and fruits to the deity. After the puja, devotees take a dip in the sacred river Ganges and pray for good health, wealth and prosperity.
So if you’re looking for a place to celebrate Makar Sankranti with gusto, head to Haridwar!
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Mysore
Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated in various parts of the country with great pomp and show. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the sun into the zodiacal sign of Capricorn (Makara) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in Mysore with great fanfare. People from all walks of life come together to participate in the festivities. The celebrations start a week before Makar Sankranti and continue till the day after. Various cultural programmes and events are organized during this time.
On Makar Sankranti, people take a dip in holy rivers and offer prayers to the Sun God. A special puja is performed at the Mysore Palace to invoke the blessings of the deity. A grand procession called Jumbo Savari is taken out on this day, which culminates at Bannimantap near Chamundeshwari Temple. Thousands of people gather to witness this spectacular event. Fireworks, colourful decorations and traditional music add to the celebratory atmosphere.
Makar Sankranti is an important festival for farmers as it marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is also a time for exchanging gifts and sweets with friends and family. In Mysore, special sweets like laddu and kesaribath
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Guwahati
Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated in almost every state, but the celebrations are particularly grand in Guwahati, Assam. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s journey towards the north (the Uttarayan), and is thus a day of great significance for Hindus.
On Makar Sankranti, devotees take a dip in holy rivers, offer prayers and give thanks to the Sun God for His bountiful blessings. The festivities last for three days and nights, and include a variety of cultural programmes and performances. On the first day, a huge fair is held at the Kamakhya Temple, where devotees come from all over to offer their prayers. The second day is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and on the third day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped.
The celebrations end with a spectacular display of fireworks on the banks of the Brahmaputra river. If you’re in Guwahati during Makar Sankranti, don’t miss out on this festive extravaganza!
Makar Sankranti Celebration In Punjab
Makar Sankranti is a popular Hindu festival that is celebrated in many parts of India. In the state of Punjab, the festival is celebrated with great gusto and enthusiasm. People dress up in traditional clothes and take part in various festivities. The main event of the festival is the kite flying competition, which is held in various parts of the city. There is also a lot of feasting and merriment during the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Makar Sankranti 2023
Makar Sankranti is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated in almost every part of the country with great enthusiasm. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s journey towards the northern hemisphere and is considered to be an auspicious day.
The festival is celebrated by flying kites, taking holy dips in rivers, making special food items and exchanging gifts. Makar Sankranti is also known as the harvest festival as it marks the end of the winter crop season and the beginning of the spring season.
Here are some FAQs related to Makar Sankranti:
- When is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January every year.
- What is the significance of Makar Sankranti?
Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the sun’s journey toward the northern hemisphere and is considered to be an auspicious day. It is also known as the harvest festival as it marks the end of the winter crop season and the beginning of the spring season.
- How is Makar Sankranti celebrated?
Makar Sankranti is celebrated by flying kites, taking holy dips in rivers, making special food items and exchanging gifts.
- What are some popular food items made during Makar Sankranti?
Some popular food items made during Makar Sankranti include til laddoos, til chikki, puran poli, feeni, sesame and jaggery sweets.
Conclusion
All in all, Makar Sankranti is a time of great joy and celebration throughout India. This festival is especially celebrated with much enthusiasm in the cities mentioned above, each with its own unique way of celebrating it. Whether it’s the kite-flying festivities in Ahmedabad or the bullock cart races in Mysore, these cities truly bring to life the rich culture and traditions that are associated with this beloved Indian holiday. So why not make plans for this year’s Makar Sankranti celebrations by visiting one of these amazing destinations?
