Makar Sankranti is considered to be the major festival of Hindus. On this day people make khichdi and offer it to Lord Suryadev and khichdi is specially donated. Due to this, the festival is also known as Khichdi. Apart from that this day is celebrated in different ways in different cities. Let us know the story of Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti Story In English:
According to the mythology of Makar Sankranti, Lord Suryadev leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. The lord of Capricorn is Shanidev. That is why it is said that after entering Capricorn, the Sun God goes to meet his son.
King Sagar performed Ashwamedha Yajna and released his horse for world conquest. Indra tied the horse to Kapilmuni’s ashram. When sixty thousand sons of Rajsagara reached Kapil Muni’s ashram for war and called him abusive words, Kapil Muni cursed them and consumed (भस्म) them all. Prince Sagara’s grandson Prince Anshuman went to Kapil Muni’s ashram and begged him and asked for the way of salvation of his brothers. Then Kapil Muni said that Gangaji would have to be brought to earth for his salvation.
Prince Anshuman swore that no king of his dynasty would live in peace unless Gangaji was brought to earth. Hearing his fast, Kapil Muni blessed him. Prince Anshuman performed severe penance and gave his life in it. Bhagirath was the son of King Dilip and grandson of Anshuman.
King Bhagiratha performed severe penance and pleased Gangaji and persuaded him to bring her to earth. After that Bhagiratha performed penance of Lord Shiva so that Mahadev Gangaji would be kept in his hair and from there the water of Ganga will flow towards the earth slowly. Mahadev was pleased with Bhagiratha’s strict penance and gave him the desired boon. After this, Ganga became absorbed in Mahadev’s hair and flowed on the earth. Bhagirath, guiding Gangaji, went to Kapil Muni’s ashram, where the bones of his ancestors were waiting for salvation.
Bhagiratha’s ancestors were saved by the holy waters of Gangaji. Gangaji then merged into the sea. The day Gangaji reached Kapil Muni’s ashram was the day of Makar Sankranti. For this reason, on the day of Makar Sankranti, devotees gather to bathe in the Ganges and visit the ashram of Kapil Muni.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, Lord Vishnu had killed the demons and buried their heads in the Mandar mountain. Thus the day of Makar Sankranti is called the day of removing evil and negativity.
The Story of the Name Makar Sankranti?
There is a legend that on the day of Makar Sankranti, Goddess Sankranti killed a demon named Sankarsur and made everyone happy. On that day the Sun was in Capricorn, hence the name Sankranti is called.