Happy Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi

[Eva Libre]

Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi is a festival day in the Hindu Calendar dedicated to the Hindu deity, Surya. It is celebrated when the Sun passes from one Zodiac to the next. It's an important festival of the Hindus and celebrated everywhere in the country in different cultural forms and different names with people welcoming the new season of harvest in their own cultural way. Like Lohri, Bihu, Pongal, Maghi, Makaravilakku. People of Punjab and Haryana celebrate it as the festival Lohri. They gather around the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorns in the flares of a huge fire and sing and dance. Prayers are made for health, growth and prosperity. Various preparations are made from til or sesame seeds, rice and jaggery are common on Makar Sankranti.

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland]

Very interesting custom, I had never heard of...

Thanks for letting us know, Eva!