Makar Sankranti: Know How and Coloring Pages for Children
In this article, Coloring Pages for Makar Sankranti are attached. Students and Parents can free download these coloring pages. Kids will truly enjoy painting about many things about Makar Sankranti and learn a lot.
The Makar Sankranti is famous Festival of India celebrated on 14 January every year. According to the Zodiac Calendar, on this day, the God Sun completes Southward journey and starts Northward journey. The Sun enters into the Zodiac Sign of Capricorn also called Makar Rashi. This moment brings many changes in climate which starts appearing more day by day we can observe throughout the year.
Sun is God of Worship in Hindu religion and also among most powerful. India is a vast geography. People of different regions celebrate Makar Sankranti in different manner. In religious places like Allahabad, Haridwar and Varanasi etc, people gathers at the banks of River Ganges to respect the God Sun. It's believed worshipping Sun on this day brings additional happiness in peoples' lives. To make God Sun Happy, people donate money, food, clothes etc to poor and needy; meet each other in community, exchange best wishes and sweets etc.
Arrival of Makar Sankranti is also beginning of Harvest Season in many parts of India. The economy of India largely depends on Agriculture. Farmers pray to God Sun for good harvest. According to the Epic Mahabharata, the King Bhisma chose to leave his body on Makar Sankranti as he had the power to control his own death. Mythological believes indicates that one who dies on this day get Moksh i.e. free from rebirth.
On the Makar Sankranti, people wear new clothes, decorate homes, shops and worship many other Gods as well. Kite flying is very common on this occasion, one of the special reasons for kids to rejoice. In many places, Kite Flying Competition and Wrestling Competition also organized by locals. India is vast geography; people of many cultures lives here. Many languages are spoken. For these reasons, Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways and also under different names. However, the purpose of all people behind celebration is common i.e. to worship and make God Sun Happy.
The festival of Makar Sankranti also celebrated in neighboucing countries like Thiland and Nepal etc. Following are given various names of Makar Sankranti across different regions (Indian States) and other countries.
Makar Sankranti: Chhattisgarh, Goa, Odisha, Haryana,[Bihar], Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and West Bengal
Pongal, Uzhavar Thirunal: Tamil Nadu
Uttarayan: Gujarat
Maghi: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
Lohri: People of Punjab celebrate Lohri on 13 January for the same reasons.
Bhogali Bihu: Assam
Shishur Saenkraat: Kashmir Valley
Khichdi: Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar
Makara Sankramana: Karnataka
Makar Sankrati in Other Countries
Makar Sankranti also celebrated outside India but under different names as given below.
Nepal: Maghe Sankranti
Thailand: Songkran
Laos: Pi Ma Lao
Myanmar: Thingyan
Cambodia: Moha Sangkran
Sri Lanka: Pongal, Uzhavar Thirunal