Uttarayan 2023: The festival of Makar Sankranti opens the gate of auspicious times on the day of Uttarayan, and as per Hindu mythology, the doors of heaven also open today. And yes, this day also has a special connection with Bhishma.

Uttarayan 2023: Sun enters the Northern Hemisphere on the day of Makar Sankranti and the day starts getting longer from this date itself.

Uttarayan 2023: The auspicious festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated only when the Sun is Uttarayan. Uttarayan means the sun’s departure to the northern part. Throughout the year, the Sun travels between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. This is also the reason for the longer and shorter duration of day and night.

Now days start getting longer

When the sun moves from south to north, the day gets longer and the night gets shorter in the earth’s northern hemisphere. In such a situation, the Sun enters the Northern Hemisphere on the day of Makar Sankranti and the day starts getting longer from this date itself.

According to astrology, as long as Sun communicates from Capricorn to Gemini, it is in the Northern Hemisphere and when the Sun is moving from Cancer to Sagittarius, it is seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

Doors of heaven open on Uttarayan in Devlok

It is believed that the day begins in Devlok as soon as the sun is in Uttarayan. It is a religious belief that the doors of heaven open on Uttarayan. The creatures who reach heaven after leaving this world get entry at this time. At the same time, it is believed that the creatures who have died in Krishna Paksha have to come back to earth to reap the fruits of their deeds.

Uttarayan in Mahabharata

We see an incident of the Mahabharata period regarding Uttarayan. As per the tale of Mahabharat, Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows and death was under his will. But he waited for the sun to be Uttarayan to leave his body for the heavenly abode.

When the sun on Makar Sankranti was seen getting Uttarayan, Bhishma left his body while saluting Shri Krishna. There is a belief regarding Makar Sankranti that those who sacrifice their body on this day, they get Moksha i.e. freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

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Makar Sankranti on Uttarayan

This transit of the sun is known as Uttarayan in Gujarat. In Assam, this festival is known as Bihu and Pongal in South India, Makar Sankranti and Khichdi, and many other names are seen in other parts of the country. But if this day is seen according to the customs and traditions, then Sun God is worshiped almost everywhere on this day, and sesame, jaggery, and rice are used during the worship and in food also today.