The importance of Makar Sankranti is important from all three points of view, astrological, religious and scientific. On Makar Sankranti, Sun enters Capricorn. For religious reasons, worshiping the Sun on Makar Sankranti is considered to have special significance. At the same time, with the rise of the sun, the cold in the atmosphere starts reducing. For all these reasons the festival of Makar Sankranti is considered very important.

The scientific reason for Makar Sankranti is that from this day, changes in nature begin as the Sun becomes Uttarayan. People who are shrinking due to cold start getting relief from winter due to the Uttarayan of the Sun. India is an agricultural country where festivals and festivals largely depend on agriculture. This day is considered to be the beginning of good days on earth because from this day the Sun starts moving from the South to the Northern Hemisphere. . This begins the day of the gods. According to religious beliefs, the doors of heaven open on the day of Makar Sankranti. Therefore, charity done on this day is more fruitful than charity done on other days.

When the Sun enters from one zodiac sign to another, this event is called Sankranti in astrology. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Sun enters Capricorn. The time between one Sankranti and another is called solar month. In the month of Paush, when the Sun turns Uttarayan and enters Capricorn, this occasion is celebrated as a different festival in different provinces of the country. The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on 14 January in North India. During the Mahabharata period, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen Makar Sankranti to leave his body. It is said in Geeta that the person who sacrifices his body in Shukla Paksha of Uttarayan gets salvation. With Makar Sankranti, the Sun becomes Uttarayan, hence people celebrate this auspicious day with great enthusiasm. At the time of Makar Sankranti, evaporation takes place in the rivers. All types of diseases can be cured by this. Therefore, bathing in rivers on this day has special significance.

At the time of Makar Sankranti, there is cold weather in North India. Medical science also says that consumption of sesame and jaggery in this season is beneficial for health. This provides energy to the body. This energy protects the body in winter. There is also a scientific reason for consuming Khichdi on this day. Khichdi keeps digestion healthy. When Khichdi is prepared by mixing ginger and peas, it increases the body’s immunity and helps in fighting bacteria. The Uttarayan position of the Sun has greater importance in both Puranas and science. When the Sun goes north, the day becomes longer and this increases the working capacity of a person. Human beings move towards progress. Due to increase in light, human power increases. From this day the nights become shorter and the days become longer. As the day becomes longer, there will be more sunlight and as the night becomes shorter, there will be less darkness. Therefore, the change in the Sun’s zodiac sign on Makar Sankranti is considered to be a movement from darkness to light.

Generally, all the dates of the Indian calendar system are determined by considering the movement of the Moon as the basis, but Makar Sankranti is determined by the movement of the Sun. Makar Sankranti is the main festival of Hindus and it is celebrated all over India and in all the provinces of Nepal. It is not celebrated in any form. In North India, this festival is called ‘Makar Sakranti, in Punjab Lohri, in Garhwal as Khichdi Sankranti, in Gujarat as Uttarayan, in Tamil Nadu as Pongal, while in Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh it is called only Sankranti. Generally, Sun affects all the zodiac signs, but the entry of Sun in Cancer and Capricorn is very important. This entry or transition process occurs at an interval of six months. It is well known that due to the Earth’s axis being tilted 23.5 degrees, the Sun is near the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth for six months and is near the Southern Hemisphere for the remaining six months. Before Makar Sankranti, the Sun is near the Southern Hemisphere, that is, relatively closer to the Northern Hemisphere. It is farther away due to which in the Northern Hemisphere the nights are longer and the days are shorter and there is winter season. But from Makar Sankranti the Sun starts moving towards the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, from this day the nights start getting shorter and days longer in the Northern Hemisphere and the chill of winter starts reducing. Hence Makar Sankranti is the beginning of reduction of darkness and increase of light.

Actually, all living beings (animals, birds and plants too) want light. The world moves from slumber to awakening. Due to more light, the consciousness and working power of living beings increases. Light is a symbol of knowledge and darkness is a symbol of ignorance. People of India express their gratitude towards Sun God by worshiping him on this day. It is worth noting that 90% of the world’s population resides in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, hence the festival of Makar Sankranti is important not only for India but also for almost all the countries. It is a day of joy for the entire human race. Among all the festivals in the entire world, Makar Sankranti is probably the only festival which is not related to any local tradition, belief, faith or any particular local event, but is an astronomical event, global geography and world It is based on the feeling of well-being and is going to give happiness to the entire humanity and 90% of the population of the Northern Hemisphere. It is said that in ancient India, above the equator i.e. the Northern Hemisphere was called the earth and below the equator i.e. the Southern Hemisphere was the underworld. was considered. Therefore, Makar Sankranti is such an astronomical event which brings new energy and joy to the entire earth. Makar Sankranti is a celebration not only of the nation of India but of the entire humanity. Although Makar Sankranti is a festival of joy for the entire humanity, it is celebrated only by the Hindu society because the sublime feeling of world brotherhood, world welfare and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah is the specialty of Indian culture only.