|
Makra Sankrant
by
W.Holidays
January 11
Makra Sankrant, also known as
Makar Sankrant, is a festival in India that
celebrates of the coming of longer days. Special sweets and cakes are
made and they all contain sesame seeds and brown sugar, making this
festival particular popular with children! Small silk bags containing
sesame seeds mixed with brown sugar are offered to friends with this
greeting "Eat this sweet sesame and speak sweetly to me", with the
intention that there will be no quarreling throughout the year.
In Gujarat kites are flown by everyone.
In Punjab, this festival is called as Lohri.
Families gather around a bonfire and feast and dance. Sugarcane, rice,
and sweets are tossed into the fire for the Sun God.
In southern India the festival is know as Pongal
and last for three days. On the first day boiled rice is
offered to the Rain God, day two the same is offered to the Sun God,
and on day three the family cattle are bathed and dressed with flowers
and bells.
Things you can do:
- Fly
a kite
- Make
sweets
- Experiment
with brown sugar and sesame seeds
|
