Makar Sankranti 2010, Kite festival in India

Makar Sankranti festival date is on Thursday 14th January 2010. Makara Sankranthi also known as Kite festival In India. Makar sankrant is about transition of Sun into Capricorn on its celestial path. Makarsankranthi is huge Religious festival regarding Sun. Makarsankranti significant considering the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Makarasankranti, traditionally has been one of many harvest days. Makarasankranthi is the day on which the sun begins its journey northwards is referred to as Makaram Sankranty.

Sankramana means “to commence movement”. Hence, the name Makara Sankranti is given to one of the largest, most auspicious, but varied festivals in the Indian subcontinent. It usually falls in the middle of January. Because of the geography and size of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location.

In Andhra Pradesh the festival celebrated for four days
It is a four day festival in Andhra Pradesh:
Day 1 – Bhogi Panduga (Bhogi)
Day 2 – Pedda Panduga,SANKRANTI (Surya)
Day 3 – Kanuma Panduga (Kanuma)
Day 4 – Mukkanuma

Celebration

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus and is celebrated in almost all parts of India in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion. Millions of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (point where the river Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun God (Surya). It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Pongal, and in Punjab as Lohri and Maghi.

In the western Indian state of Gujarat, the celebrations are even bigger. People offer thousands of their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor for reaching to their beloved God, the one who represents the best. Makar Sankranthi also happens to be the day on which Bhishma, the grand sire of Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata voluntarily left his mortal coil.
In the rural and coastal areas, cock fights are held and is a prominent event of the festival.

It is celebrated differently in different regions of India.