Holy dips, prayers, kite-flying mark Makar Sankranti

Tens of thousands of faithful today took holy dip in rivers and ponds and offered prayers in temples on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti which was celebrated across the country with gaiety and fervour.
Braving early morning winter chill, devotees in North India bathed in sacred rivers and ponds and made a beeline to temples to offer prayers.
The devout offered goods made of "til" (sesame) to the poor, an act of charity believed to bring spiritual benefit on Makar Sankranti when the Sun enters the tropic of Capricorn.
In Allahabad, thousands converged at the Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, to take holy dip on Makar Sankranti which marks the decline of winter.

The worshippers had to walk on foot for a long distance due to traffic and security restrictions.
Long-winding queues of devotees were seen outside the temples in the vicinity of the Sangam as nearly 5,000 police personnel kept a hawk-eye vigil to maintain law and order.

Vendors selling goods made of sesame and jaggery did roaring business.
Colourful kites dotted the skyline of many towns on the occasion with children, young and old camping themselves on rooftops to enjoy the festival.
In Pink City Jaipur, where Makar Sakranti is celebrated as a festival of kites, enthusiasts perched themselves on the roof of their houses at the break of dawn to fly kites.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the nation on the occasion, hoping the festival would usher in prosperity, growth and progress.