Dedicated to the Sun deity, Makar Sankranti, or Sankranti is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. It marks the transit of the sun into the northern hemisphere — its northward journey — and is thus also known as Uttarayan. In the northern parts of the country, it marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated as a harvest festival. One of the few festivals observed according to the solar cycle, Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the sun into the makar or capricorn zodiac.
Makar Sankranti is one of the 12 Sankranti (or Sankranthi) days that are a part of the Hindu calendar. Sankranti, also known as Sankramanam means transit and marks transition of the sun into a new sign. The twelve Sankranti days in a year are divided into four main categories — Ayan, Vishuva, Vishnupadi and Shadhitimukhi Sankranti. Among all the 12 Sankranti says, ‘Makar Sankranti’ is the most promising one and it is celebrated all over India.