Today is Makar Sankranti - after this day the days start becoming longer and warmer and thus the chill of winter declines. The festival therefore takes place around 21 days after the tropical winter solstice (between December 20 and 23rd) that marks the starting of Uttarayana, which means northward journey of Sun.Sankranthi means transmigration of Sun from one Rāshi (zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. Makara Sankaranti, or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn). Sankranti is celebrated all over South Asia with some regional variations.
In India, it is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the country. Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul'. These Til(sesame seeds)gud(jaggery) laddus(balls) are distributed while saying 'Tilgul ghya ani goad goad bola' meaning 'Take this Tilgul and say sweet things'.
Pictured above are the Tilgul laddus and I offer it to all saying 'Tilgul ghya ani goad goad bola'!
