India is the land of festivals. Makar Sankranti is one of the important festivals of Hindu religion that they celebrate with great joy and happiness. The festival is celebrated every year of 14 or 15 January depending upon the solar cycle. People celebrate by taking an early morning holy dip in the river and offering prayers to sun because according to Hindu mythology sun is one of the many God.

The word Makar Sankranti derives from two words makar and Sankranti. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means the transition of the sun in the Capricorn (zodiac sign). In a addition, this occasion is a very sacred and auspicious occasion according to Hinduism and they celebrate it as a festival.

It is celebrated almost all over the country, specially in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, karnataka and Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh, the Makar sankranti is celebrated for three days. All houses are decorated. Guests and in-laws are invited and sweets are given out to all. People dress themselves up as characters from mythology. The first day, that is Bhogi Panduga, people burn all old article's. The second day, Pedda Panduga is the Sankranti day when the big festival is held. People are dressed in new clothes and pray to God. There are also feasts arranged for the guests. Cock fighting was a favourite game during the Makar Sankranti, but now it is banned. The third day, the Kanuma Panduga is the day for having meat after the excessive sweets.

For most parts of India, this period is a part of early stages of Rabi crop and agricultural cycle, where crops have been sown and the hard work in the fields is mostly over. The time thus signifies a period of socializing and families enjoying each other's company, taking care of the cattles, and celebrating around bonfires, in Maharashtra the festival is celebrated by flying kites.

I wish that you touch new heights just like the kites on Makar Sankranti.... Wishing you a successful year ahead.

HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI.