In the month of Paush, when the Sun enters Capricorn after Uttarayan, this occasion is celebrated as different festivals in different states of the country. Generally, all the dates of the Indian calendar are determined based on the movement of the Moon, but Makar Sankranti is determined based on the movement of the Sun. Makar Sankranti has great religious significance. On this day, it is considered auspicious to donate after bathing in a holy river. Also, Kharmas ends on the day of Makar Sankranti and the auspicious works which were banned for a month start again.
Makar Sankranti has great importance not only in religion but also in science. The king of planets, Sun God, influences all the 12 zodiac signs, but his entry in Cancer and Capricorn is very important. Sun God enters these two zodiac signs at an interval of six months. Talking about the scientific point of view, 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 the remaining six months is near the Southern Hemisphere. Before Makar Sankranti, the Sun is near the Southern Hemisphere, i.e. It is relatively far away from the Northern Hemisphere, due to which the nights are longer and days are shorter in the Northern Hemisphere and this is the winter season. At the same time, from Makar Sankranti, the Sun starts moving towards the Northern Hemisphere, hence from this day the nights start getting shorter and days longer in the Northern Hemisphere and the cold starts decreasing.
There is a religious belief that the doors of heaven open on the day of Makar Sankranti. On this day, one attains salvation by worshiping, reciting, donating and taking bath in the holy river. According to the legend, Bhishma Pitamah was blessed with the boon of dying, but due to Dakshinayan Sun, he remained on the bed of arrows and waited for Uttarayan Sun and sacrificed his body in Uttarayan on Makar Sankranti, so that he could free himself from the bondage of birth and death. Be free.
Mother Ganga appeared on earth on the day of Makar Sankranti. It was only through Ganga water that 60,000 sons of King Bhagiratha got salvation. After this, Ganga ji went and joined the ocean outside Kapil Muni’s ashram.
Ganga water has the amazing ability to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. Ganga water also contains sulfur in abundance, hence it does not spoil for a long time. Scientific tests show that bathing in Ganga water and drinking Ganga water destroys the germs of diseases like cholera, plague and malaria. Ganga water has the ability to kill disease-causing E. coli bacteria. Scientists say It is believed that the water of Ganga contains bacteriophage viruses that eat bacteria. These viruses become active as the number of bacteria increases and after killing the bacteria they then hide. There is something in the water of Ganga that kills and controls disease causing bacteria. From the hair of Lord Shiva When the Ganga originates from the Himalayas and reaches the Terai areas, its religious importance increases further. Therefore, Ganga water is definitely used in various religious rituals. When Ganga comes from the Himalayas, it mixes with many types of soil, many types of minerals and many types of herbs. Overall, some such mixture is formed which we have not been able to understand yet. That is why bathing in Ganga is considered very beneficial in the scriptures. Mother Ganga is known as Mokshadayini. This is because it is believed since ancient times that bathing in Ganga destroys all sins and attains infinite virtues. By taking bath in Ganga water on special days like Amavasya or Purnima Tithi, the seeker receives blessings of Gods and Goddesses.