Makar Sankranti 2011 It is the first Festival of the year

Makar Sankranti is an auspicious and important festival of Hindu’s. The calculations for determining Makar Sankranti are done according to the solar calendar.14th January is the celebration date of Makar Sankranti. Thus, this festival is one of the few festivals of the country that is celebrated on a fixed date. It is usually the month of Magh of the Hindu calendar,

According to legends, goddess Sankranti killed a demon called Sankarasur hence the name Sankranti.

Days and nights both are of equal length on 14th January .Makar Sankranti is the first day of Uttaraayana. During six months of the year, the days are longer than the nights. During the other six months, the nights are longer than the days. The first period is called Uttaraayana.Uttara is the Hindi word which means north. Then the Sun moves north from the centre of the sky.

According to Mythological in the Mahabharata, Bhishma who lay wounded on a bed of arrows is said to have been waiting for the period of Uttarayan to set in, in order to breathe his last since it was believed that a person escapes the cycle of rebirth if he/she dies on this day.

Isnan (Bath) and Daan (Donation) are the two very important factor of the Makar Sankranti. According to ancient native should donate food and cloth after bath on the Makar Sankranti. The day is devoted to the worship of Lord Surya (Sun God).


This auspicious day is known in different names at different places in India. While the North Indians and some regions in the East celebrate it as Makar Sankranti and Lohri the people of Assam celebrate it as ‘Bihu’ and the people in the South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh celebrate as Pongal.

On this day you should Get up early in the morning, before sunrise, have bath and be ready with water & flowers for the sunrise. They Worship the rising Sun, by offering water, flowers with both the hands & then pray with folded hands by chanting the Gayatri Mantra.