WATCH | PM Modi Feeds Fooder to Cows At His Residence on Makar Sankranti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen feeding fooder, grass, and jaggery to cows at his residence in New Delhi on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi said the festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and the same emotive connect could be witnessed in Kashi-Tamil and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam.

In his address at the Pongal celebrations held at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan in the national capital, Modi said festive fervour marked every home in Tamil Nadu and wished joy, prosperity and contentment in the lives of all the people.

Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated across India. The festival marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The festival of Sankranti has its ancient Hindu roots and is celebrated in the country with different names.

The historical significance of Makar Sankranti is immense, and references to the festive can be found in several texts, legends, and jatakas.

It is frequently associated with the solar calendar, emphasizing the Sun’s journey from the southern to the northern hemispheres, the arrival of longer days after Sankranti, and the impending end of the bitterly cold winters.

Certain Hindus believe that Makar Sankranti is the day when Lord Surya, the god of the Sun visits his son Shani. Legend has it that traditions state that Lord Surya and his son Shani were not on good terms, but that day they reconciled.

According to another legend, anyone who dies on the day of Makar Sankranti receives Moksha or salvation. It is said that Mahabharat’s Bhishma Pitamah was critically injured during the Mahabharata war, and he stayed alive till Sankranti Day to attain moksha.

It is thought that all of the gods descend to Earth on Makar Sankranti Day to bathe in the sacred Ganga River. Owing to this notion a large number of people travel to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Banaras on Sankranti to visit these sacred locations and take a dip in the holy river.

In case, a person is unable to visit the Ganga ghat, they can mix some Gangajal, already present in their home, with their regular bath water so that they can feel the scared essence of the Sankranti Day.

People also donate and participate in philanthropic activities on Makar Sankranti Day. As a group and family, they fly kites together and offer food, jaggery, and sesame seeds to poor people.