Things to tell your kids about Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival celebrated on the 14th of January every year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the start of Spring. Farmers celebrate it to thank mother nature for a bountiful crop. In general, it depicts the start of a period of peace, prosperity and goodwill. 

Here are some interesting pieces of information about the festival that you can share with your children this year, to make the celebration even more meaningful. 

The festival is celebrated all across India and is known by various names in each state. For example Poush Sankranti in West Bengal, Magh Bihu in Assam and Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu. 

Makar Sankranti is the day the Sun leaves the Tropic of Cancer and goes on to enter the Tropic of Capricorn (Makar means the zodiac sign of Capricorn). On this day, the Sun starts its journey from Dakshinayan (South) to Uttarayan (North). 

In the story of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah after being wounded by the arrows suffered till the onset of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. He attained moksha during the period of Uttarayan. Hence, it is believed that people who die on this day achieve moksha. 

As per legend, Sankranti is deemed a deity who killed a devil named Sankarasur. The day next to Makar Sankranti is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On this day, Devi slayed the devil Kinkarasur. 

Families get together for fun and frolic on this day. They exchange sweet preparations with each other. Since sugar cane is harvested as the first crop and converted into jaggery, it is used extensively in making sweets for this festival. 

Another ingredient commonly used in the sweet preparations in sesame seeds or til. This is because til generates heat in the body and hence good for winters. Also, sesame seeds are believed to absorb negative energy and give out positive energy. 

Since the day is associated with the start of purity and peace, people take a dip in the holy waters of the Ganges, Yamuna, Krishna, Godavari to purge them of their sins. 

Kite flying is an important aspect of this festival. As the sun moves towards the north, its rays are said to have a medicinal effect on the body. Hence, people get out in the open to fly kites and receive the healing rays of the sun. In north India, on this day, the sky looks painted in a multitude of colours because of the kites being flown. 

In short, Makar Sankranti is a day of offering gratitude to nature for everything that it has bestowed on us. 

In the next article, we will also tell you what interesting activities you can do with the kids to help them understand the rich cultural heritage of India. 

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