The Story of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti falls every year in January, usually on the 14th or 15th. Traditionally, people bathe early in a river or at home and offer water to Surya Dev, the Sun. Sesame and jaggery are eaten and shared, khichdi is cooked, and grain, blankets and sesame are given to those in need. In different regions it is called Pongal, Uttarayan or the day after Lohri, and the sky fills with kites.

From this day the Sun begins its Uttarayan, its northward journey. The scriptures call Uttarayan the day of the devas, a time of light and auspicious work. So the festival stands for moving from darkness towards light.

The Mahabharat shows the importance of this time through Bhishma Pitamah. Wounded by Arjuna's arrows in the Kurukshetra war, Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows. His father Shantanu had blessed him with the power to choose the moment of his death. The Sun was then in Dakshinayan, its southward half, so Bhishma held on to life.

For about fifty-eight days he lay on the arrows. During this time he taught Yudhishthir deep lessons on the duties of a king and on life itself. When the Sun turned north into Uttarayan, Bhishma meditated on Shri Krishna and peacefully left his body.

Another tradition is linked to Ganga. Through King Bhagirath's penance, Ganga came down to earth and followed him to the ashram of Kapil Muni, where lay the ashes of Bhagirath's ancestors, the sons of King Sagar. Ganga's water freed them. Devotees believe that place is where Ganga meets the sea, and even today the Gangasagar Mela is held there at Sankranti.