Makar Sankranti, a festival that marks the beginning of an auspicious phase of the sun moving from Sagittarius Zodiac sign to the Capricorn was celebrated in Dehradun as elsewhere in the State with fervour and devotion on Thursday. The festival would be observed on Friday too in keeping with the Hindu lunar calendar.
Makar Sakranti marks the days getting longer as compared to the nights as the sun starts moving towards the northwards from this day, a process that is called Uttarayan.
From this day month of Magha starts. “One should abstain from non- vegetarian food and alcohol during Magha,” said Manoj Purohit, a priest.
He further said this month is meant to worship lord Shiva. “Taking bath in Ganga and offering prayer to the lord Sun are the things the people do on the day of Makar Sankranti. This is a long-continuing tradition and its antiquity can hardly be traced. Khichdi with rice and Urad pulse is made on this day. Chanting Gayatri Mantra on this day is deemed auspicious as it brings the knowledge and wisdom to the aspirants” he added.
The festival staggered for two days, Makar Sankranti would be celebrated in Dehradun on Friday too. The devotees thronged the temples based in the city on Thursday. Many would do the same on Friday as well.
lata Sharma said that every year on this day she prepares khichdi for the poor people. “The celebration is useless unless we do something for the society even for day. We also visit the temple to offer prayer. I avoid eating non-vegetarian food during the entire month of Magha as the scriptures enjoin us to do,” she said.
Groups of women were seen reciting devotional songs in the temples since the morning. Anu, one of them, said she gives ‘Dakshina’ every year on this day to as many Brahmins as she could find. “This is a tradition and I get some satisfaction while following it,” she added.