India is a land with large cultural diversities making it home to many festivals celebrated nationally with great vigour. The festivals are never-ending in India and the month of January hosts two main celebrations, one of them is Republic Day of India on 26th January and the second one is known as the Festival of Harvest, “Makar Sankranti” celebrated in the second week of January.
Makar Sankranti is the name popular for the harvest festival of Rabi crops in Western India and is known as Pongal in the South and Lohri festival in the North. This festival is an ideal part of Indian traditions and it marks the end of winters and the end of aestical and tough Shabrimala pilgrimages in Kerala with the beginning of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. Add to the joy of the kite festival with cheap air tickets to India on Tripbeam and culturally celebrate this festival.
The celebrations and rituals differ in different parts of India and as such, we have added the list and dates of each festival being celebrated in the second week of January below:
Lohri (Celebrated in the Northern States especially Punjab and Haryana) – 13th January, Thursday
Makar Sankranti (Popularly celebrated by this name in Western India) – 14th January, Friday
Pongal (Popularly celebrated in South India) – 14th January, Friday to 17th January, Monday.
The pandemic did take its toll on these festivals last year in 2021 but with the situation becoming better this year because of vaccines and people maintaining proper social order and awareness, the festival’s return is even more triumphant and people are filled with excitement.
Make use of the best travel offers on Tripbeam and let our travel experts book your flights hassle-free for you while you pack your bags for your trip to India. Makar Sankranti has gained a lot of popularity with tourists from the USA, Canada, Australia, and other nations as they come to visit India for the New Year and end up staying for the festive celebrations also.
Key Points to Know About Makar Sankranti
It is the festival of harvest celebrated in India that marks the end of the winter season. The festival is celebrated with people lighting fires in the evening, singing songs, and dancing. Join the joyous celebrations of India and participate in the cultural and religious beliefs as you immerse yourself in flying kites in the day and enjoying merrily in the night.
There are some things that you must know about Makar Sankranti if you are to participate in its celebrations. These are the must-do’s for you to have a memorable time in India and enjoy the festival of Makar Sankranti.
Chant Sun God’s Mantra – According to Hindu mythology Makar Sankranti is the festival of ‘Sun God’ and so chanting the Sun God’s mantra brings you good fortune, health, and prosperity.
Take a Holy Dip at a Sacred Place – Makar Sankranti is also known as ‘Maghi’ and people choose River Ganga or other religious rivers to take a dip and wash their sins. The Kumbh Mela of Uttar Pradesh also begins with Makar Sankranti for this very reason.
Gift Spiritual Items – Gift your family members and friends items that can be used for spiritual purposes like praying to spread ‘Dharma’ in society. These can also make for outstanding gifts to bring back for your loved ones filled with spiritual beliefs.
Make Donations – Making a donation in itself is a good thing. So make sure to donate some to charity or those in need as per your capacity.
Tripbeam hopes for you to have a splendid time enjoying the lovely festival of Makar Sankranti in India. Find affordable business class tickets and travel packages for corporate plans, last minute flight tickets for family holiday packages, and more.
Also Read: Travel Trends in a Post Pandemic World: The effect of COVID on the Travel and Tourism Industry