India is a land of festivities with many religions and festivals taking place all over the country celebrating the land and the culture of the country. Every year a day after Lohri i.e., Makar Sankranti or Magha Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 all across India from North to South to East to West.

Makar Sankranti has great cultural, historical, and spiritual significance in the country which is only enhanced by the people celebrating the festival in the sheer variety and richness in diversity all over the country

This is basically a festival of harvest which is celebrated by farmers who harvest their crops and sow new seeds. On this day, people also celebrate the new beginnings of the sowing season by flying kites and there is also a custom of eating khichdi in some states. Kite flying is more prominent in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Some people also exchange sweets and greetings and many also take a holy dip in the river on this auspicious festival.

In other states, though Makar Sankranti is celebrated but with different names. In the South, Pongal is celebrated on this day, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. On Pongal people offer prasad to the Sun god called Pongal, hence the name of the festival is called Pongal.

This festival is celebrated for four days in South and is called different names like Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanya Pongal.

On this day, people adorn their houses with rangoli. Even streets are decorated with Rangoli also known as Kolam. People also celebrate the festival with bullfights, also known as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

In the east of India in Assam Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is celebrated on this day. It is also the harvest festival of Assam. The festival means bhog/feasting and is celebrated by feasts, bonfires, many traditional games, and also by rssssss of traditional music and dance.

More or less the festival is celebrated throughout the country with some variation in the customs and traditions and names but the essence of the festival lies the same all across India focusing on new beginnings.