Festivals
This is a list of festival-related list articles. A festival is an event ordinarily staged by a community, centering on and
celebrating some unique aspect of that community and its traditions, often marked as a
local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival is a
special occasion of feasting or celebration, usually with a religious focus.
Aside from religion, and sometimes folklore, another significant origin is agricultural. Food (and
consequently agriculture) is so vital that many festivals are associated with harvest time. Religious commemoration and thanksgiving for good
harvests are blended in events that take place in autumn such as Halloween in the
northern hemisphere and Easter in the southern.
Watch Amazing dance steps.Do it in FestivalsLists of festivals on Jan 20
Date
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Name
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Type
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1 Jan
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Wednesday
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Restricted Holiday
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2 Jan
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Thursday
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Restricted Holiday
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14 Jan
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Tuesday
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Restricted Holiday
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15 Jan
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Wednesday
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Restricted Holiday
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15 Jan
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Wednesday
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Restricted Holiday
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25 Jan
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Saturday
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Observance
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26 Jan
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Sunday
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Gazetted Holiday
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29 Jan
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Wednesday
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Restricted Holiday
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Makar Sankranti is one of the most propitious
days for the Hindus, and is distinguished in almost all parts of India in
countless cultural forms, with immense devotion, gaiety and fervour. It is the
main festival of Hindus and is dedicated to Lord Sun. It also refers to a
specific solar day in the Hindu calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun
enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar which marks the end of winter
month and start of longer days. This is the beginning of the month of Magh. To
recompense for the distinction that happens due to the revolution around the
sun, every 80 years the day of Sankranti is deferred by one day. Makar
Sankranti generally falls on January 14th. From the day of Makar Sankranti, the
sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan journey. Therefore, this festival
is also known as Uttarayan.
History of Makar Sankranti
Sankranti is deemed a Deity. As per the legend Sankranti killed a devil named
Sankarasur. The day next to Makar Sankrant is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On
this day, Devi slayed the devil Kinkarasur.The information of Makar Sankranti
is available in Panchang. The Panchang is the Hindu Almanac that provides
information on the age, form, clothing, direction and movement of Sankranti.
Importance of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is the date from which Northward movement of the sun begins. The period from Karka Sankranti to Makar Sankranti is known as the Dakshinayan.
Makar Sankranti is the date from which Northward movement of the sun begins. The period from Karka Sankranti to Makar Sankranti is known as the Dakshinayan.
In different regions of the country, Makar Sankranti is
celebrated by different names:
- Lohri: One day before Makar Sankranti, on 13th January, Lohri is celebrated in Haryana and Punjab. At night, people gather around the bonfire and throw til, puffed rice & popcorns into the flames of the bonfire. Prayers are offered to the bonfire seeking abundance & prosperity.
- Festival of Donation "or" Khichdi
": In Uttar Pradesh it is mainly the festival of
'Donation'. The Magh fair, which continues for one month on the confluence of
Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Allahabad, starts from the day of Makar
Sankranti only. On this auspicious day people do fast in Uttar Pradesh eat and
offer khichdi. Also, Khichdi Mela is organized at Gorakhdham in Gorakhpur.
- In Bihar, Makar Sankranti festival is known as Khichdi. On this day, donating urad, rice, gold, woollen clothes, blankets etc. have their own importance.
- In Maharashtra, all married women donate cotton, oil and salt to other suhagin or married women on their first Sankrant.
- In Bengal, there is a tradition of donating til after taking bath in Makar Sankrant. Huge fair is also organised every year in Gangasagar.
- Pongal: On the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Tamil Nadu, this festival is celebrated as Pongal for four days.
- Kite Festival: In Gujarat, the kite festival is organized on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
Therefore, in India, Makar Sankranti festival has its own importance. It is celebrated in various States by different names. What is its history, why Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year, etc. is also discussed in the above article.
