Makar Sankranti: Ganga baths, fasting, stories, donations, and worship of Lord Sun God are essential on this earth, also known as Khich. It is celebrated with great pomp across the country on Tuesday.
People take baths in holy rivers and their homes, make Surya Upasana, chant rituals, and make donations since morning in the holy period. This time,e Vishkumbh Yoga and Punarvasu Nakshatra are being formed in Makar Sankranti, which is considered very auspicious. Kharmas also ends with Makar Sankranti, and auspicious works will begin.
First Amrit Snan of Mahakumbh today-
The first Amrit (royal) bath of Mahakumbh is today on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. All 13 Akharas will bathe at the Sangam coast with their Naga ascetics.
Next two Amrit Snans
– 29 January Mauni Amavasya
According to the Hindu calendar, on January 14, Lord Sun will enter Capricorn at 8:55 a.m. this year. At the same time, the combination of Vishkumbh Yoga and Punarvasu Nakshatra is also seen. With the Sun entering Capricorn, eating sesame seeds after bathing and donating during the Punyakaal, which will be from 8:55 a.m. to 5:43 p.m., is considered very auspicious. The Punyakaal will be from 8:55 a.m. to 5:43 p.m.
Bathing during the Punyakaal, performing homa, chanting rituals, and donating sesame seeds, jaggery, sweets, and khichdi material to Brahmins and people experiencing poverty are considered very auspicious. It is said that doing so brings happiness and prosperity to the house. If the Sun and Saturn are defective in the horoscope, worshipping the Sun and donating black sesame seeds to the Makar Sankranti festival can remove these defects.
On this day, Ganga Ji met the ocean.
It is believed that many mythological facts are associated with Makar Sankranti. Mother Ganga Ji followed Bhagirath on this day and met the ocean after passing through Kapil Muni’s ashram. That is why bathing in the Ganges and donating baths at pilgrimage sites are considered of special importance on this day. According to the story of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen the day of Makar Sankranti to give up his body.
Naga Sadhus of Panchayati Nirvani Akhara took an Amrit bath with spears, tridents, and swords. Sadhus and saints then participated in a procession riding on horses and chariots. The Bhajan Mandals accompanied them, and the chants of the devotees made the atmosphere more divine.
The administration made strict arrangements for the safety of the devotees in Maha Kumbh Nagar. Barricades were placed on every road to check vehicles, and police and security forces were deployed in every nook and corner.