Bangalore: India is celebrating Makar Sankranti, the day for worshipping ‘Lord Surya’ (Sun God) on January 13 and 14. The festival has different versions from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. However, being a harvest festival, bonfires and feasts are the main thing common to all the celebrations.

The entry of Sun into Zodiac sign Capricorn or ‘Makara’ marks the beginning of festival. Hindu calendar refers it as ‘Uttarayana Punyakalam’ which lasts for six months and the time period is considered ideal for all kinds of auspicious activities.

Makar Sankranti announces the arrival of spring season and the festival is celebrated throughout India with varied festivities including singing and dancing.

Karnataka- Sankranti

Karnataka celebrate Sankranti as the harvest festival. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with mango leaves. Colorful rangoli is drawn in the door steps. People visit neighbors and relatives and exchange ‘yellu balla’, a mixture of peanuts, gram, fried sesame with jaggery and copra. The sugar cane is an integral part which Kannadigas can’t avoid.