Makara Sankranti

Makara Sankranti in India is an annual festival in India held during the month of January. Originally a agricultural festival, Makara Sankranti marks the harvest season in the country. Observed for three days, Makara Sankranti is a popular event in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. It is also widely celebrated in the other parts of the country especially the villages. Sankranti begins this January 14, 2011 and will last for three days. According to the Bengali calendar, the month of "Magh" is the season of harvest. You can plan your India travel during these days.

Introduction to Makara Sankranti

The states in India celebrate the beginning of the harvest festival in a unique way. They prepare their traditional dishes, clean homes, and take a dip in the river. First day of Sankranti is an ode to mother earth for blessing the farmers with rain and seeds for cultivation. Paddy is an offering made to Goddess Laxmi on this day. In the villages of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, the households indulge in preparing dishes out of rice powder and wheat.

Fairs and Festivals in West Bengal

Bera Utsav Murshidabad	Diwali Festival West Bengal
Durga Puja	Gangasagar Mela 24 Parganas
Jagaddhatri Puja Hooghly	Jalpesh Mela Jalpaiguri
Jhapan Bankura	Kenduli Mela Birbhum
Naba Barsho	Poush Mela Birbhum
Ravindra Jayanti	Rash Mela Cooch Behar
Rathayatra Hooghly	Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival
Vasanta Utsav Shantiniketa	Vishnupur Festival Bankura

Makara Sankranti celebrations

Prayers, bathing in the river, and feast are important part of the festival celebrations. During family reunions, there is exchange of sweets and fruits, a ritual believed to multiply the season's produce. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the second day has all the main events including wearing of new clothes and prayers. Second day of Makara Sankranti is popular as Pedda Panduga. Cock fighting was an important event held until the last decade in the state but banned presently by the government. Third of the Makara Sankranti day is called Kanuma Panmduga. The day is made special by cooking non-vegetarian dishes and making sweets.

Festivals in January 2012

Festival Name	Festivals Day/Date
Dr. Sampoornanand Jayanti	1 Jan, Sunday
New Year Day	1 Jan, Sunday
Rashtriya Balika Diwas	3 Jan, Tuesday
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti	5 Jan, Thursday
Island Tourism Festival	5-15 Jan, Thursday(starting)
International Kite Festival	9-12 Jan, Friday
Kolkata Festival	11 - 15 Jan Wednesday (starting)
National Youth Day	12 Jan, Thursday
Lohri Magh Bihu (Assam, Bengal)	13 Jan, Friday
Makara Sankranti / Uttarayan	14 Jan, Saturday
Pongal	14 - 17 Jan, Friday-Sunday
Pattadakkal Dance Festival	14 Jan, Saturday
Army Day	15 Jan, Saturday
Vivekanada Jayanti	16 Jan, Monday
Hampi Festival	18 Jan, Wednesday
Hampi Festival 500th Anniversary	18 Jan, Wednesday
Modhera Dance Festival	20 - 22 Jan, Friday - Sunday
Jaipur Literature Festival	20- 24 Jan, Friday-Tuesday
Desh Prem Diwas	23 Jan, Monday
Netaji Jayanti	23 Jan, Monday
Republic Day	26 Jan, Thursday
Vasant Panchami/Saraswati Puja	28 Jan, Friday
Mahatma Gandhi's Assassination Day	30 Jan, Monday
Martyr's Day	30 Jan, Monday
Mamallapuram Festival	27 Dec, 2011- Jan 26, 2012, Tuesday-Thursday
Kerala Village Fair	Mid Jan
Agni Utsav(Orissa)	Mid January