Every festival has its own tradition and practices, so has Makar Sankranti. This festival has special significance in Hindu Sanatana dharma such as bathing, eating khichdi, and charity. This festival is celebrated in the Paush month when the sun comes on Capricorn. In the current year, this festival falls on the fourteenth or fifteenth date of the month of January.
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Why Khichdi Is Eaten and Donated on This Day?
It is a prevalent story that at the time of Khilji’s invasion, the Nath yogis couldn’t fetch the time to cook food due to conflict with Khilji. Due to this, Yogis were often left hungry and weakened. To solve this problem, Baba Gorakhnath advised them to cook pulse, rice, and vegetable together. This dish was quite nutritious and delicious. This gave the body instant energy. Nath yogis liked this dish a lot. Baba Gorakhnath named this dish Khichdi. As khichdi was distributed among all hungry yogis, the tradition of donation has been started from this day.
In the Makar Sankranti festival, the Khichdi fair starts near the temple of Baba Gorakhnath. Khichdi is offered to Baba Gorakhnath and distributed as Prasad among other. This festival goes for several days in Baba Gorakhnath temple.
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, kite flying is practiced in various parts of India, especially in Gujarat and Delhi. It is believed that on this day Lord Bhaskar had visited his son Shanidev. Sanidev is the lord of Capricorn that is why this day is known as Makar Sankranti. In the Mahabharata time, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen this day (Makar Sankranti) to give up his body. On the day of Makar Sankranti, Gangaji followed Bhagirath and met Kapil Muni’s ashram in the ocean.
