The Story of Makar Sankranti

Story

Once upon a time, a little boy named Aarav lived in a small town. Aarav loved festivals full of colours, sweets, and stories. One chilly winter morning on 13th January, he saw his mother in the kitchen making some tasty food. His grandmother was sitting by the fire, making sweet til (sesame seeds) laddoos.

Aarav quickly sat beside her and asked, “What are you doing Daadi?”

“I am making laddoos for Makar Sankranti tomorrow," she said. What is Makar Sankranti, Daadi? "Makar Sankranti is an important festival that we celebrate every year," Daadi replied.

But why do we celebrate Makar Sankranti Daadi?" "Please tell me more about this festival," asked Aarav.

Grandma said, "Sure my dear, I will tell you everything about Makar Sankranti."

Grandma smiled and began the story:

"Makar Sankranti is the special day when the Sun starts moving towards north, it is the time to say goodbye to winters and welcome warmer and brighter days. It is said that on this day, Suryadev, the Sun God, visits his son Shanidev at his house called Makar. This teaches us to have a loveful relationship with everyone.

Makar Sankranti is a very special day when the Sun God blesses the Earth with happiness and prosperity. This day is when the farmers thank and pray to Surydev and Mother Nature for the good yield of their crops. That’s why it's a festival of gratitude for nature.”

Aarav was fascinated. "So, it's a thank-you to the Sun and the Earth?" he asked.

"Exactly!" Grandma nodded. "Now let me tell you how we celebrate Makar Sankranti."

"Do you know Aarav that Makar Sankranti is also known as the 'Kite Festival'? On this day, people fly kites and compete to see whose kite flies the highest. Kids enjoy kite flying a lot. "Daadi, I will also fly a kite on Makar Sankranti, said Aarav. "Of Course son! but fly it with your father, Daadi said.

People also make sweets from sesame seeds (til) and jaggery (gur), just as I am making til laddoos for us. This teaches us to love and care for each other," Grandma said, handing Aarav a til-gur laddoo.

In some places, people light bonfires, sing songs and dance to celebrate the harvest. Farmers enjoy and celebrate because their hard work has paid off.”

Grandma added, “Some people take a dip in holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, or Godavari and worship Suryadev for the health and happiness of their families.”

On this day, people share food and clothes with poor people. “It’s a festival of sharing and caring,” she said.

Aarav was very excited to celebrate Makar Sankranti and decided to make a big, colourful kite with his father. They wrote "Thank You, Sun" on it before flying it high in the sky.

The next morning on the day of Makar Sankranti, 14th January, Aarav and his family prayed to Sun God. Post that he and his father flew the kite high up in the sky. In the evening they thanked Mother Earth for the ample harvest this year.

As the sun set, Aarav looked at his grandmother and said, "This is my favourite festival now! It’s so full of joy and fun."

And so, Aarav and his family celebrated Makar Sankranti with love, laughter, and lots of learning, making it a day to remember.