West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wished the nation on the occasion of Makar Sakranti, Pongal and Bihu.
In a series of tweets, Banerjee wished the people of Bengal on Makar Sakranti, Tamils on Pongal and Assamese on Bihu.
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Banerjee also said; From this year, we will be celebrating this day as Lok Sanskriti Dibas in Bengal to promote the folk artistes of our state.
Makar Sankranti is one of the few ancient Hindu festivals that has been observed according to solar cycles, while most festivals are set by the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
Being a festival that celebrates the solar cycle, it almost always falls on the same Gregorian date every year (January 14), except in rare years when the date shifts by a day for that year, because of the complexity of earth-sun relative movement.
Also read: Mamata Banerjee extends Lohri greetings
The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names such as Lohri by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs, Sukarat in central India, Bhogali Bihu by Assamese Hindus, Posh Sangkranti by Bengali Hindus and Pongal by Tamil and other south Indian Hindus.
Read more: 5 legends of Lohri you may want to know
Makar Sankranti is observed with social festivities such as colorful decorations, rural children going house to house, singing and asking for treats (or pocket money), melas (fairs), dances, kite flying, bonfires and feasts.
