Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Makar Sankranti, an important festival of Bihar, is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. This festival is also regarded as the harvest festival of Bihar. The day marks the end of winter and the beginning of the longer days which commence from the date of Jan 14th, every year. In the Indian State of Bihar, people celebrate this festival with utmost happiness. Preparing sweets, flying kites, seeking blessings, taking holy dips, and visiting temples are common practices during this harvest festival. This festival is celebrated across multiple states in the names of Pongal, Baisakhi, Onam and Wangala.
About
Photo: Joel’s Goa Pics / Wikimedia Commons
Makar Sankranti is the harvest festival of Bihar and is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the state. It marks the ending of winter as the sun moves into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Makar Sankranti reflects the rich traditions and communal harmony of Bihar. This festival is also known as Tila Sankranti in Bihar. It marks the onset of the auspicious Uttarayan season and holds cultural importance in the lives of the people. It also symbolises the beginning of harvest season as families perform rituals together like flying kites, offerings made to deities, bathing in holy river water and preparing sweets.
Significance
Photo: Bernd Dittrich / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
This festival of Bihar marks the beginning of the sun’s journey and entry into the Northern Hemisphere of Makar Raashi. It marks the end of the winter solstice. This stands for the commencement of ‘Uttarayana’. Farmers thank the sun and the earth for good crops and a better harvesting season. The festival is celebrated across the entire country in different ways which promotes unity. People exchange Til Gud and other sweets made from sesame and jaggery which is considered as a gesture of goodwill and to strengthen bonds. It is a promise of renewal, prosperity and improving familial bonds.
Cultural Relevance
Photo: Saloni Desai / Wikimedia Commons
Makar Sankranti holds a sacred resonance for the Hindu Community in India. The festival and its rituals are dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. People in Bihar perform ritualistic dips in holy rivers including Ganga, carrying symbolic weight and an inner urge to cleanse and purify the soul. Makar Sankranti is steeped in Indian Mythology and as part of Bihari Culture, this festival marks the threshold of the beginning of the harvesting season and farmers express gratitude to god for a fruitful yield for the upcoming year.
Rituals Of The Harvest Festival Of Bihar
Photo: Srimanta Ray / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
There are multiple festivities and rituals happening in Bihar in which individuals can take part. Each ritual is unique and reflects the culture of Bihar.
- Offering Khichdi: Makar Sankranti in Bihar and other states of India is believed to be the festival of the Sun God. Khichdi, a dish of rice and lentils, is made and offered to Sun God. It is said that if we offer Khichdi to God, we are blessed with prosperity, health and happiness.
- Kite Flying: Kite Flying is another important ritual which is performed on the day of Makar Sankranti. People fly kites in the sky. It symbolises letting go of the negative past. It also symbolises breaking free from the past.
- Giving Tilkut: Distributing Tilkut is an essential ritual of Makar Sankranti in Bihar. Mothers give Tilkut, which is a sweet dish made from sesame seeds and jaggery, to their sons. It is a symbol of the promise that the son would take care of his parents in their old age. It is also a symbol of strong family bonds.
- Holy Dip: Devotees also take a dip in the holy river of Ganges. It is believed that taking a dip in the water cleanses their soul and all the past sins are forgiven. A bath in the holy water also marks the beginning of a new chapter.
- Surya Puja: Sun God is worshipped on this day. Offerings are made to him. Puja is done to Lord Surya and devotees ask for blessings, prosperity and warmth in the new year.
- Recitation Of Gayatri Mantra And Surya Mantra: Devotees recite Gayatri Mantra and do Surya Mantra Jaap. These Mantras are very powerful and devotees who recite them 108 times are thoroughly blessed.
- Donations: The occasion of Makar Sankranti is very auspicious for making donations and helping the needy. People donate Jaggery, Til Laddoo, Sugarcane, Green Peas, Clothes, Kites and money to the poor. According to Bihar Culture, married girls are given kitchenware by their parents.
- Preparing Dahi Chhura: Families prepare and consume a special dish called Dahi Chhura. This is made with flattened rice and Dahi or Yogurt. It is believed that Dahi Chhura wards off winter ailments.
Where To Stay
Photo: Sasha Kaunas / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Bihar has a wide range of accommodations, from low-cost lodges to luxury hotels. In Patna, the capital city, high-end hotels such as Hotel Maurya and Lemon Tree Premier offer modern amenities and outstanding service. Guesthouses and mid-range hotels, such as Hotel Chanakya, provide excellent lodging options for budget travellers. Bodh Gaya, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site, offers hotels like Hotel Sujata and Oaks Bodhgaya that cater to international and spiritual pilgrims. Nalanda and Rajgir also feature accommodations near historic places, such as simple lodges and heritage hotels that offer a distinct cultural experience.
Where To Eat
Photo: Star zyz / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Restaurants in Patna, like as Pind Balluchi and Biryani Mahal, serve native specialties including litti chokha, sattu paratha, and khaja. Bodh Gaya caters to a global audience with cafes such as Be Happy Café, which serves fusion cuisine alongside Bihari foods. Street food enthusiasts can visit the local bazaars for delights like as malpua, thekua, and samosas. Rajgir and Nalanda have tiny eateries that serve delicious, home-cooked food. For a true taste of Bihar, try the traditional thalis, which provides a great experience of regional delicacies.
Things To Remember
Photo: ian dooley / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
- Worshipping: While worshipping the god of the Sun, Surya, utmost cleanliness has to be maintained. The practice of offerings made to the god is done with respect and strong belief.
- Kite Flying: While flying kites in the sky, ensure no harm is done to the birds. In case of any casualties caused to birds, report to the animal helpline instantly and save their lives.
- Acknowledge The Farmers: This day brings prosperity to farmer’s life as they acknowledge the beginning of the new harvest season.
The harvest festival of Bihar, Makar Sankranti, has gained prominence not only in the state but throughout other states of India. Celebrated in the name of festivals like Pongal, Baisakhi and Onam, Makar Sankranti is thoroughly enjoyed by citizens of India. This festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and the ending of the winter days. Plan a trip with TripXL to Bihar and learn more about the traditions, and rituals.
Cover Photo: VD Photography / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
