PM Modi wishes nation on occasion of Makar Shankranti, Pongal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished the nation on the occasion of Makar Shankranti and Pongal.

The Prime Minister took to micro-blogging site Twitter to extend his greetings.

"On Makar Sankranti, I extend my heartfelt greetings to people across the nation," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

"My heartiest Pongal greetings to people of Tamil Nadu," he said in another tweet.

The festival of harvest 'Makar Sankranti' is being celebrated in different parts of the country today. This year the festival will be celebrated for two days on January 14 and 15.

According to astrology, on the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun enters the domain of Capricorn of 'Makara'. The word 'Sankranti' signifies the movement of the Sun from one domain to another. Thus, the day is named Makar Sankranti, which means the movement of the Sun to the domain of Makara.

Pongal or Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamilians all over India for four days in the second week of January.

A sweet named pongal, made of rice, cardamom, jaggery, raisins, green gram and cashew nuts is also prepared as part of the festival and is regarded as an offering to the Sun god.

The Prime Minister has also extended his greetings on the occasion of Bhogi and Bihu.

"Bhogi greetings to all those celebrating. May this day bring happiness in everyone's lives," he tweeted.

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"Best wishes to the people of Assam on Magh Bihu," he said in another tweet.

Bhogi is the first day of the four-day Pongal festival. This day is celebrated in Assam as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, and in Punjab as Lohri.

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees thronged the 'Har ki Pauri' ghat in Haridwar to take first festive bath on the occasion of Makar Sankranti during the Ardh Kumbh mela today morning.