Makara Sankranti / Happy Pongal

Makara Sankranti or Sankramana is celebrated in the month of Magha when the sun passes through the winter solstice, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. It is also a celebration of the harvest festival. It is celebrated across states in India and is called by different names. 

On this auspicious day, people in Karnataka distribute Yellu and Bella to family and friends (jaggery, sesame seeds, ground nut, dried coconut, and fried gram goes into this ellu bella) along with Sakarare Aachu of different shapes and greet with the words “Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathadi” / ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಂದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತಾಡಿ. 

While in Maharashtra it's "Til gul ghya goad goad bola"/ तीळ गूळ घ्या नी गोड-गोड बोला

 (Eat sesame seeds and speak only good). 

In the evening the children in the house will be made to sit and a mixture of ellu bella, berries called elchi hannu/ ಎಲಚಿ ಹಣ್ಣು in Kannada, pieces of sugarcane, coins are mixed and poured over their heads, and an aarathi is performed.

The significance across states of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all walks of life.

May the sun radiate peace, prosperity, and happiness in our lives!! 

Happy Sankranthi!!

Click here for "Pongal Recipe"