Understanding the Significance of Makar Sankranti 2023: The Festival of Giving
Makar Sankranti, also known as the "Festival of the Sun," is an important festival celebrated by people across India. It marks the beginning of the auspicious period of Uttaryana and is celebrated on January 14th and 15th each year. On this day, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn, signaling the end of winter and the start of longer days.
One of the key traditions associated with Makar Sankranti is the act of donating. According to Hindu beliefs, donating on this day brings good luck and blessings. Here are some items that are traditionally donated on Makar Sankranti:
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Food Donation: One can donate raw khichdi, urad dal, rice, salt, turmeric, and ghee to the needy. Urad dal, in particular, is considered a symbol of Shani, and donating it is believed to remove the negative effects of Shani.
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Metal Utensils: Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture, states that metal or steel utensils are highly auspicious items to donate on Makar Sankranti. They are believed to bring happiness and prosperity. One can include vermilion, turmeric, sacred red thread, sesame seeds, and jaggery into the utensils before distributing them to the needy.
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Sesame Seeds: Donating sesame seeds on Makar Sankranti is believed to ward off the negative effects of Saturn or Rahu. It is also thought to remove negativity from the home and bring in positivity and prosperity.
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Black Things: Items such as black clothes, black blankets, and black urad are considered highly significant on Makar Sankranti. Donating black things is believed to remove defects related to Shani, Guru and Mercury.
Apart from these, there are several other things that can be donated on Makar Sankranti like clothes, books, money, etc. It is a day to share joy and spread love, and donations are a great way to do that. The act of giving on Makar Sankranti is not just a way to help others, but it is also a way to purify our souls and bring blessings to our lives.