An Infographic on Makar Sankranti
The festival's enduring power comes from a perfect alignment of cosmic events, earthly cycles, and spiritual beliefs. These three pillars form the foundation of every celebration across India.
It marks the Sun's precise transition (*Sankranti*) into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (*Makara*), a fixed celestial event that occurs around January 14th each year.
It begins the auspicious six-month period of *Uttarayana*, symbolizing a universal journey from darkness and ignorance to light and knowledge.
It is a pan-Indian harvest festival, a time of collective thanksgiving for the abundance of freshly harvested crops like sugarcane, rice, and pulses.
The length of celebration varies significantly by region, from a single night of bonfires to an elaborate four-day affair. This chart compares the typical duration of the festival in key states.
Festival cuisine is built around symbolic ingredients from the winter harvest. This chart shows the primary components that form the heart of Sankranti's culinary traditions.
The rituals of Makar Sankranti are rooted in epic stories that give profound meaning to its timing and traditions, transforming an astronomical event into a landscape of divine action.
The great warrior Bhishma waits on a bed of arrows for the auspicious start of *Uttarayana* to depart his body, linking the festival to liberation (*moksha*).
King Bhagiratha's penance brings the sacred river Ganga to earth to purify his ancestors' souls, establishing the sanctity of the Ganga Sagar pilgrimage.
The Sun God, Surya, visits his son Shani, providing a divine precedent for mending relationships and fostering goodwill during the festival.
While ancient in origin, the festival faces modern challenges where traditions clash with public safety, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility. This chart compares the primary impacts of these issues.