Special rituals on the occasion of Makar Sankranti will be held at Lord Jagannath temple in Puri on Saturday.
The special rituals will begin after the Madhyanha Dhupa (mid-day offering) of the Trinity and the special prasad will be taken out on a procession around the Temple with the beatings of gongs.
As per the ritual, today, the Trinity will give darshan to the devotees in ‘Makar Chourashi Besha’.
“Makar Sankranti is one of the 12 jatras of the Holy Trinity, when a special betel (Nali Paan), in fact, world’s largest paan is offered to Lord Jagannath,” said, Jagannath Culture expert, Suryanarayan Rathasharma.
Makar Sankranti is observed in Odisha at par with the Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab, Bihu or Magh Bihu in Assam.
agrarian festival is celebrated on January 14 (January 15 in case of a leap year) every year with lots of pomp and gaiety across the State. The festival marks the first day of Sun’s transition into Makara Rashi (Capricorn). It also marks the end of the winter and start of longer days.
Though it is mainly a festival associated with farming and harvest, many traditions are associated with it in Odisha. On this day of the festival, since the transition of Sun takes place, people worship the Sun God for the well-being of them and their family members.
(Reported By Madhusudan Mishra, OTV)