It's that time again of the year when the first festival of the year takes place. Makar Sankranti is celebrated with much pomp and circumstance all around the country. In Gujarat, Makar Sankranti is known as the Uttarayan festival and is celebrated under a variety of names, customs, and activities.

Uttarayan festival is one of the most awaited festivals in Gujarat, with activities ranging from flying kites to making sweets to enjoying delicious khichdi. Gujaratis look forward to screaming Kai Po Che as they watch kites soar in the sky, but the Uttarayan holiday is much more than just worshipping and eating sweets. It is followed by a number of interesting facts.

Uttarayan is a festival of great astrological and cultural importance. It is observed on the day when the sun moves from the constellation of Sagittarius to the constellation of Capricorn. Sweets, devotion, and khichdi are offered as sacrifices to the sun deity. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, it is stated that King Bhishma was granted the privilege of choosing the time and day of his death, which he did. He awaited the arrival of Makar Sankranti in order to request the arrival of death.

Uttarayan symbolizes the arrival of spring and the beginning of the harvest season. Sweets, savories, and other food items are distributed among family, near and dear ones, and neighbors to send the message that previous disagreements should be forgotten and that the new year should be marked by hope, love, and togetherness, among other things.

Kite flying has health advantages - Kite flying is one of the most popular attractions at the Uttarayan festival in Gujarat, and it is one of the most popular attractions in the world. It is claimed that kite flying was associated with excellent health in the past since the individual would be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time. While it is currently considered a sport, it was not always seen as one.

Uttarayan is India's equivalent of Thanksgiving — it is celebrated on November 22nd. In many aspects, Uttarayan is akin to the Thanksgiving holiday celebrated in Western countries. Uttarayan, like Thanksgiving, is a festival that celebrates harvest, wealth, and optimism. Furthermore, it is also the time of year when individuals gather together to spend time with their families and friends.

Uttarayan was celebrated on December 31 many years ago - The date of Uttarayan is postponed by one day every eight years due to the rotation of the earth around the sun, which occurs once every eight years. Approximately a thousand years ago, the Hindu festival of Uttarayan was observed on December 31.