The story behind Makar Sankranti
It is one of the most auspicious days of the year for daan — charitable giving. The Mahabharata records that Bhishma Pitamah waited on his bed of arrows for Uttarayan to begin before departing, as dyi…
It is one of the most auspicious days of the year for daan — charitable giving. The Mahabharata records that Bhishma Pitamah waited on his bed of arrows for Uttarayan to begin before departing, as dying during the sun's northward journey is believed to ensure moksha. Across India, the festival is known by different names: Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Lohri the previous evening in Punjab, and Bihu in Assam — but the spirit of harvest, gratitude, and new beginnings is common to all.
Gau Seva on Makar Sankranti is one of the most meritorious acts possible on this day. The Vishnu Purana specifically mentions cow feeding as the highest form of Sankranti daan. Jaggery (gur) — the traditional Sankranti sweet — is also the most auspicious offering for cows on this day, symbolising the sweetness of the sun's new journey and the hope of the harvest ahead.