Makar Sankarnti is one stand apart Hindu festival which is away from date fluctuations. Always arriving on January 14th, the festival is celebrated with great oomph in many states. One more unique factor is that, this festival is different in every other place. As the festival marks the arrival of warmer days, we see off the chilly winters and it becomes the season of flying kites, fragrance of “til” sweets and groundnuts. The festival touches every other land with a different kind of excitement which makes us wonder, in how many ways it is celebrated? Below are the best places to celebrate Makar Sankranti around the country.
Rajasthan
Makar Sankrati or also called “Sankrat” here, is one majorly celebrated festival of the sand state. Abundance of Rajasthani sweets are savoured which includes pheeni, gajak, til-paati, ghevar, til-ladoo and puwa.
This is one special occasion for married women here as the newly married couple is invited at girl’s house for a special feast called Sankrant Bhoj.
Kite flying is one inevitable function organized on this day. Look up at the sky and you will find it expressing the oomph of this festival with extravaganza of colourful kites.
Delhi/Haryana
Another northwest region is nowhere behind in celebrating this excitement gala. The people here savour halwa, churma of ghee and kheer. Brother of married girl arrives at her home with “Sidha”, which is gift for the in laws of the girl.
Punjab
Arriving one day after their major festival, “Lodhi”, Sankranti comes as “Maghi” for Punjabis. They consider an early river bath on this day as very holy. Lamps with sesame oil are lighted to invite prosperity in homes.
Gujarat
As Gujjus call it “Uttarayan”, the festive mode in the state turns paramount during this time. While this two day festival, every Gujarati wait to utter three words, “Kai po che” which means “I have cut”. They precisely mean cutting kite here and Sankranti comes as madness wrapped like a joy.
