Makara Sankranti stands out as an important event that is celebrated widely across India. It marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac sign Sagittarius to Capricorn.
Villagers participate in community fishing during the Bhogali Bihu celebration at Goroimari Lake in Panbari village, Guwahati.
The Assamese harvest festival is known as 'Bhogali Bihu'. Some of the festivities include bonfires, feasting, breaking of pots and playing several interesting games like the traditional bird fight.
'Giddha' is a folk dance where the women are dressed in bright colours and dance in a circle. This is performed widely on this particular day.
Lohri is an extremely popular festival celebrated by the Punjabi people. Traditionally associated with the harvest of the rabi crop, people celebrated Lohri with feasting, exchange of gifts, and songs and dance around bonfires.
But the festival is mostly marked by people flying kites across the state.
In Maharashtra, festivities include exchanging of sweets and taking holy dips. Women come together and have 'Haldi-Kunku', which is a ceremony that includes tumeric and vermillion.
‘Kolams’ (rangoli) decorated the streets, while houses were decorated with palm leaves and flowers, as a mark of celebration of the harvest festival.
Makara Sankranti is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and the festivities go on for four days. The harvest festival is celebrated with fervour on the first day of the Tamil month of 'Thai,' with farmers worshipping the 'Sun God' with their agricultural
Farmers of Chamarajanagar village, Karnataka, celebrate Sankranti festival by jumping over fires along with their bulls.
In Karnataka, Makara Sankranti is celebrated with great fervor. On this day, dishes are prepared with sesame and jaggery, and sugarcane is sold widely. There's a lot of singing and dance performances as well.
On this day, most people decorate the front-yard of their houses with Rangoli.
In Andhra Pradesh, the celebration goes on for four days - Bhogi, Makara Sankranti, Kanuma and Mukkanuma. Beginning with the burning of useless items in a Bhogi fire, the festival is marked with plenty of folk dances, doll shows and kite flying.
It holds great importance because it stands for the end of winter and the onset of spring or the harvest festival. Click on to find out how Makara Sankranti is celebrated across India!