Makar Sankranti Jan 15, 2024

Observed on January 14—or January 15 on a leap year—the festival of Makar Sankranti marks the entry of the sun into the Capricorn zodiac as well as the end of winter and the return of longer days. The festival, celebrated differently depending on the state, is known by many names, such as Lohri in Punjab, Uttarayana in Gujarat and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Although it holds regional variations, it is predominantly celebrated by flying kites, symbolic of the sun"s transition. As part of the observance, communities come together to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Makar Sankranti is also marked by various fairs across India. Among them is the renowned Kumbha Mela, which occurs every 12 years in holy locations like Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik. Additionally, the Magha Mela, a mini-Kumbh Mela, takes place annually in Prayagraj, while the Gangasagar Mela occurs on the Ganges River.

© Saumil Shah - flickr.com/saumil/Getty images

palette

Today in History

Frosty Finland
Jan 15, 2025Chital, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 19, 2024Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Oct 31, 2024Happy Diwali!
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Jan 31, 2025Happy International Zebra Day!
Unbe-leaf-able
May 1, 2025Maharashtra Day
An oasis in the desert
Mar 10, 2025Lion, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
King of the jungle? Nope
Finding beauty in ruins
Feb 16, 2025Happy World Whale Day!
Oct 5, 2023Gentoo Penguins, Antarctica
Jewel of the Adriatic
Jul 18, 2024Coral Reef Awareness Week
A salty situation
Apr 14, 2024Bowling Ball Beach, California, USA
What are these predators doing?
Heaven meets Earth!
Oct 7, 2025Fall colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
Dec 19, 2025Bormio, Lombardy, Italy
Aug 14, 2024World Lizard Day
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Who’s the wisest of them all?
May 15, 2025Palace of Westminster, London, England
Nov 13, 2024Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Dec 9, 2023India gate, New Delhi, India
Jan 29, 2024Gollinger Waterfalls, Salzburg, Austria
Apr 27, 2024Leucistic Annas Hummingbird
A smooth landing, feet first
Jun 26, 2025Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia