From wearing Sugar Jewellery to flying kites

Its Makarsankranti tomorrow i.e on 14th of January here in Maharashtra,India while in some states its called as Bhogi or Pongal.Makarsankranti here is celebrated to mark the first day of the suns's transit into Makara,symbolising the end of the winter and the beginning of longer days,sunlights and harvest.

But this brings us to an important question-What exactly are the traditions followed during this celebration?

Now,traditions may vary slightly from place to place,but as I reside in Maharashtra state of India.So i will share the traditions we follow here in our state.

From wearing sugar jewellery(halwyache dagine) to flying kites and feasts-it is an interesting time of the year.There are also ceremonies such as suneche tilavan(welcome of new bride) and balache bornhan-where children are showered with gifts and chocolates.

People exchange colorful halwa and tilgul laddos,while food items such as puran poli are offered for lunch.

Our Marathi phrase"tilgul ghya goad goad bola" accompanies the preffered sweets.This comment roughly translates to "accept the tilgul and say sweet words"

Womens are dressed in traditional clothes such as black saree for the occassion as shown in the picture above and adorn themselves with the sugar jewellery.Even men wear black for the occassion.

Now this particular type of jewellery is made out of sugar and roasted sesame seeds combined with sabudana and sugar powder.Made in select places,this can be either ordered from jewellery or rented temporarily.

The festivities dont end with the end of the day.Normally,Makar Sankranti is a three day festival in Maharashtra,and in the ensuring week,haldi-kumkum celebrations will be held in many households.This will see Maharashtrian women apply auspicious colors to each other followed by an exchange of sweets and gifts.

Tilgul is one of the main food items that mark the festivities during Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra.These little sweet balls made from roasted sesame seeds and jaggery,are exchanged between friends and family members on the occassion of this auspicious event