Festivals play a crucial role in weaving together customs, beliefs, and celebrations to form the vivid tapestry of Indian culture. Sankranti is a particularly important event among the many that grace the Indian calendar. Named after the Sanskrit term “Sankramana,” which means “to move,” Sankranti signifies the sun’s entry into a new sign of the zodiac. Though there are differences in the customs and ceremonies, it is celebrated with great intensity and excitement throughout India. The year 2024, according to the Sankranti calendar, holds the potential for spiritual growth, prosperity, and regeneration.

Significance of Sankranti

Sankranti profoundly weaves into Indian customs, marking a celestial occasion that transcends mere holiday significance. It marks the beginning of new seasons and agricultural cycles as the sun moves from one sign of the zodiac to the next. Sankranti is very significant in terms of culture and spirituality in addition to astronomy. Communities gather during this time to pray, perform various rites, and spend time together. The celebration celebrates the victory of good over evil and inspires people to proceed on a path of introspection and rejuvenation.

Celebrated throughout India, Makar Sankranti is a significant harvest festival. Makara Sankranti marks when the northeast monsoon ends in South India and the start of the harvest season. The name “Sankranti” designates the Sun’s passage from one sign to the next. In the Indian context, Makara Sankranti is the day when the Sun enters the Capricorn zodiac, which is known as Makara in Sanskrit. This festival is one of the few in Hinduism that is observed on a set day, January 14.

Benefits of Sankranti

• Cultural Unity: Sankranti promotes cultural unity by bridging geographical and religious divides and fostering a sense of togetherness and solidarity among varied cultures.
• Farm Prosperity: Sankranti marks the start of the harvest season in agrarian civilizations, bringing with it the expectation of a plentiful crop and a prosperous economy.
• Spiritual rejuvenation: People are encouraged to reject negativity and embrace optimism by the event, which offers a chance for spiritual reflection and rejuvenation.
• Creating Stronger Social Bonds: Sankranti is a time when friends and family get together to greet one another, share festive fare, and celebrate.
• Environmental Awareness: Sankranti, a celebration with agricultural origins, raises awareness of environmental stewardship by serving as a reminder of the relationship between people and the natural world.

Pooja Vidhi

Ganesh Puja: To start off the festivities, prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, asking for his blessings on a trouble-free and fortunate celebration.

Ritual Bath: Before dawn, devotees immerse themselves in rivers or other hallowed sources of water as a purification rite that represents the forgiveness of sins and the rebirth of the soul.

Offerings to the Sun God: In addition to performing Surya Namaskar, or salutations to the sun god, people make offerings of grains, water, and flowers as a way of showing their appreciation for the energy that keeps life alive.

Prasad distribution: As a kind of offering to the gods, people give sweets, particularly those prepared with sesame seeds and jaggery. They offer these to loved ones, close friends, and the underprivileged.

Kite flying: It is an essential component of Sankranti celebrations in many parts of the world. It represents the victory of good over evil and the ascent of spirits towards new heights.

History of the Sankranti Calendar

Astronomical observations were a major factor in identifying the opportune times for different activities in ancient Indian society, which is where the Sankranti calendar originated. Vedic literature like the Rigveda mentions the idea of Sankranti, demonstrating its ancient origins and cultural importance in India. Due to the impact of various regional customs and traditions, Sankranti has developed into a multifaceted celebration over the ages. The solar calendar, which is based on how the sun moves, is the basis of the Sankranti calendar and directs social celebrations, religious rituals, and agricultural operations. Every Sankranti signifies a distinct shift in the sun’s heavenly path, bringing with it the prospect of rejuvenation and abundance.

Sankranti Calendar Dates

Important Sankranti

Makar Sankranti: Commemorates the beginning of the six-month Uttarayana period and the Sun’s motion into Makara rashi on its heavenly route. Makara Sankranti, also known as Uttarayana, is the day that the sun sets on its northward path. The lunar positions that determine the traditional Indian calendar are based on Sankranti, a solar event. Over a long period of time, Makar Sankranti always falls on January 14 or sometimes on January 15, when the Sun rises in Makara Rashi.

Mesha Sankranti: In the Hindu Solar Calendar, Mesha Sankranti signifies the start of the New Year. The sun enters the sidereal sign of Aries, or Mesha Rashi, on this day. Usually, April 14–15 is when it happens. Regional New Year celebrations also mark this day. Pohela Boishakh in the Bengal region, Pana Sankranti in Odisha, and Vaisakhi in the Punjab region follow Mesha Sankranti by a day.

Dhanu Sankranti: Designated as Dhanu Sankranti, the first day of the lunar Pausha month occurs. People observe it by eating wild potatoes in Nepal and Southern Bhutan.

Karka Sankranti: On July 16th, the Sun enters the Karka rashi, marking the occasion known as Karka Sankranti. Along with the beginning of Dakshinayana, which ends at Makar Sankranti, this also signifies the conclusion of the six-month Uttarayana period in the Hindu calendar.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Sankranti calendar for 2024 represents the rich fabric of Indian culture, faith, and tradition in addition to denoting a celestial phenomenon. Communities reunite to commemorate this historic anniversary, reinforcing their links of solidarity, thankfulness, and fortitude. People celebrate Sankranti with prayers, rituals, and celebrations. These serve as reminders of the enduring spirit of human endeavor and the everlasting cycles of nature.