Makar Sankranti

PM Modi extends greetings to people on Makar Sankranti, Bihu celebrations

On Tuesday, January 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. He also greeted Assamese people on Magh Bihu, a harvest festival

Weather in Prayagraj: Temperature dips in Prayagraj, devotees shiver

The India Meteorological Department predicts cold winds to blow at about 8 km/h in the Maha Kumbh Mela area. Devotees to face severe cold in the coming days

Makar Sankranti 2025: What is the importance of flying kites on this day?

kites Flying importance on Makar Sankranti 2025: People across the country fly multicoloured kites which is believed to be a way to express appreciation and gratitude to God

10 million devotees take dip in Sangam on 1st Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh

The DGP further informed that apart from that, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti people in major cities across the state are doing Snan

PM Modi attends Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal celebrations in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday joined Sankranti and Pongal celebrations at the residence of his Cabinet colleague and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy and later participated in Lohri festivities at Naraina. Telugu filmstar Chiranjeevi, ace badminton player PV Sindhu and several Union ministers joined the programme at Reddy's residence where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present. Modi participated in rituals associated with the festival, which is celebrated in different regions under different names and is associated with harvest. "Attended Sankranti and Pongal celebrations at the residence of my ministerial colleague, Shri G. Kishan Reddy Garu. Also witnessed an excellent cultural programme," the prime minister said in a post on X. People across India celebrate Sankranti and Pongal with great fervour, he said, adding it is a celebration of gratitude, abundance and renewal, deeply rooted in the agricultural traditions of our culture. "My best wishes for Sankrant

NTA postpones UGC-NET exam scheduled for January 15 due to festivals

The UGC-National Eligibility Test (NET) scheduled for January 15 has been postponed on account of festivals, including Makar Sakranti and Pongal, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Monday. The exam for admission to PhD programmes, awarding Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as assistant professors is being conducted from January 3 to January 16 for 85 subjects in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. "The NTA has received representations to postpone the exam on January 15 on account of festivals, including Pongal and Makar Sakranti. In the interest of the aspirants, the exam has been postponed and a new date will be announced later," Rajesh Kumar, Director (Exams), NTA, said. "The exam on January 16 will be conducted as per the earlier schedule," he added. On January 15, the exam was scheduled for 17 subjects, including mass communication and journalism, Sanskrit, Nepali, law, Japanese, women studies, Malayalam, Urdu, Konkani, criminology, folk literature, .

Bank holidays 2025: Are banks closed on Jan 13 and 14 for Lohri, Sankranti?

The January 2025 bank holiday calendar is out, and this year's Lohri and Makar Sankranti festivals, which fall on January 13 and 14, respectively, are designated as holidays

Makar Sankranti 2024: Top 10 foods prepared in different parts of India

Makar Sankranti, which is widely celebrated in India, is a Hindu festival. People prepare delicious food on this occasion. Here are the 10 foods prepared in different parts of India

Banned Chinese manja continues to be in high demand ahead of Uttarayan

As the countdown begins for the Makar Sankranti begins, markets are buzzing with variety of kites

Kai po che: All you need to know about ongoing Ahmedabad Kite festival 2024

A total of 153 kite flyers from 55 nations around the world, 68 national kite flyers from 12 Indian states, and 865 kite flyers from 23 Gujarat cities are taking part in Ahmedabad Kite festival 2024

Makar Sankranti 2024: History, Significance and other facts about festival

Makar Sankranti is an auspicious Hindu festival which is observed across the country on January 14. The festival marks the beginning of the harvesting festival and says goodbye to winters

Gangasagar Mela: Devotees, seers take holy dip in Ganges on Makar Sankranti

Devotees and seers took a holy dip in the Ganges at the Gangsagar in the South 24 Parganas on Saturday, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti: Mumbai cops ban nylon kites for safety of birds, humans

Ahead of Makar Sankranti, a festival associated with flying of kites, the Mumbai police has banned the use, sale and storage of 'manja' or nylon kite strings sometimes coated with powdered glass on account of the danger they pose to humans as well as birds. The order will be in effect from January 12 to February 10 and violators will be charged under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobeying lawful order of public servant), an official said on Thursday. The use of non-biodegradable synthetic thread as kite string causes accidents, injuries to wildlife, sometimes even loss of life and damage to the environment, the order said. It is desirable to protect birds which are getting extinct day by day and classified as rare and endangered species, it added.

Mamata to visit Sagar Island to review preparations for Gangasagar Mela

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting the Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday to review the preparations for the Gangasagar Mela, officials said. Lakhs of people gather at Sagar Island from across the country to take a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti'. While 15.5 lakh pilgrims visited Gangasagar Mela last year amid the threat of the coronavirus, the figure could reach as high as 60-70 lakh between January 8 and 16 when the fair would be held this time, an official said. During her two-day visit to the island, Banerjee will be meeting senior officers to review the preparations made for the congregation, the official said. "She will also be inaugurating three new helipads at the island," he said. Before leaving for Kolkata on Thursday, around 120 km away, she will be offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram. Banerjee is also expected to visit the Bharat Sevashram Sangh

Over 350,000 pilgrims take holy dip at Gangasagar on Makar Sankranti

Over 350,000 pilgrims took the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal here on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Friday

Covid-19: Haridwar administration bans holy dip in Ganga on Makar Sankranti

Amid the continuous rise in COVID-19 cases, the Haridwar administration has banned devotees from taking a holy dip in the Ganga river on 'Makar Sankranti' i.e., January 14."There will be a complete ban on Makar Sakranti celebration/holy dip on January 14 in view of a new variant of COVID-19 i.e., Omicron," the District Magistrate's order states.Even, residents of the district will not be allowed in the area of 'Har ki Podi' on the day of the festival."Night Curfew will also be imposed from 10 pm to 6 am in the district (on Friday)," reads the order.It further adds that if someone is found violating the above-mentioned norms then proceedings will be initiated against the violator under Epidemic Disease Act 1897.Makara Sankranti or Maghi, is a festival in the Hindu calendar, in reference to the deity Surya. The day marks the first day of the sun's transit into the Makara, marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.

PM Modi pens poem in Gujarati eulogising sky, Sun on Makar Sankranti

The PM later tweeted Hindi translation of the Gujarati poem on public demand

PM Narendra Modi greets citizens on Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people on the festivals of Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu

UP CM Adityanath offers prayers at Gorakhnath Temple on Makar Sankranti

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath offered prayers at the Gorakhnath Temple on the occasion of Makar Sankranti greeted people on the festival, which marks the end of the winter solstice

Railways announces 33 Sankranti special trains in Andhra from Jan 9 to 16

Considering the Sankranti festival rush, the South Central Railway (SCR) zone will run more than 30 special trains to ferry passengers from Hyderabad to multiple places in Andhra Pradesh from Saturday