A little Info on why we celebrate Sankranti / Pongal

Makara Sankranti (It is a sanskrit word) is the harvest festival of India.
Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one Rashi to the other.
The transition of Sun from Dhanur Rasi to Makara Rasi marks
the starting of Uttarayana which means northern movement of Sun.
Since Uttarayana is Considered as auspicious time,
Makara Sankranti is celebrated as the beginning of that period

The word Uttarayan came from joining two different Sanskrit words
"Uttar" (North) and "ayan" (movement towards)
Uttarayanis the day when the sun starts
to travel towards north as a sign of coming summer.
Uttarāyana (is the six month period between
Makar Sankranti around (January 14) and
Karka Sankranti around (July 14),
when the Sun travels towards north on the celestial sphere.
The period from July 14 to January 14 is known
is Dakshināyana

Sun is the one who transcends time and also the one who rotates
the proverbial wheel of time
The co-relation of cosmic events with individual life is one of
the most astounding traits of Hindu Masters. Once this co-relation
is brought about these cosmic events become instrumental
in reminding us of the best which we cherish and value.
Sun is the most glorious and important cosmic body,
thus every sun-centric event becomes an important spiritual,
religious & cultural event in India

Well it's celebrated diffrently in diffrenent parts of India:
In North India,
Punjab - Lohri
In East India,
Bihar - Sankranti
West Bengal and Assam - Bhogali Bihu
Gujarat and Rajasthan - Uttarayan (Kite flying festival)
In South India,
In Tamilnadu - Pongal
In Karnataka - Sankranti
It is a three day festival in Andhra Pradesh:
Day 1 - Bhogi Panduga (Bhogi Pongal)
Day 2 - Peddala Panduga,SANKRANTI (Surya Pongal)
Day 3 - Kanuma Panduga (Kanuma Pongal)


Sankranti brings with it an abundance of crop and wealth.
This season experiences cool breeze, bright sun,
golden fields and trees which echo the songs of birds.
The earth glows with the glory of nature.
During Sankaranthi , men, women and children, attired in traditional, colorful clothes visit friends and relatives and exchange pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til,
molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram.

So have a blast this Sankranti....