Makar Sankranti is one of the major festivals of Hinduism. It is celebrated when the Sun moves northward. The special feature of this festival is that it is not celebrated on different dates like other festivals, but on January 14th every year, when the Sun moves northward and crosses the Tropic of Capricorn. When is this festival celebrated? Makar Sankranti is directly related to the Earths geography and the position of the Sun. Whenever the Sun crosses the Tropic of Capricorn, that day is January 14th so the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on this day. On this day people wake up early in the morning, apply sesame paste and then take a bath. Laddus and other dishes are also prepared from sesame and jaggery. Married women also exchange Suhaag items during this time. It is believed that this will prolong the life of their husbands. Makar Sankranti is celebrated differently in different regions of India. In Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka it is called Sankranti while in Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Pongal. In Punjab and Haryana the new harvest is welcomed with the festival of Lohri while in Assam it is celebrated with great enthusiasm as Bihu Its name and celebration vary from region to region. Dishes vary according to different beliefs but lentil and rice khichdi has become a key symbol of this festival. Eating khichdi with jaggery and ghee is especially important. Sesame seeds and jaggery are also highly valued on Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti from the perspective of religion and astrology: From an astrological perspective on this day the Sun leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn marking the beginning of the Suns northward march. Makar Sankranti is celebrated as a welcoming festival marking the Suns entry into Uttarayan. Throughout the year the Sun transits twelve zodiac signs Aries Taurus Capricorn Aquarius and Sagittarius and Makar Sankranti occurs when the Sun leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn. After the Sun moves to Uttarayan the auspicious time for worshipping the Gods in Brahma Muhurta begins. This period is called the time for attainment of Vidya. It is also called the Siddhikaal of Sadhana. During this period, pious deeds like installation of deities house construction Yagya Karma etc. are performed. Makar Sankranti is also called the festival of bathing and donation. On this day bathing in pilgrimage sites and holy rivers is of great importance. Along with this one gets virtue by donating sesame seeds jaggery khichdi, fruits and according to the zodiac . It is also believed that the Sun God is pleased with the donations made on this day. Bhishma Pitamah voluntarily left his body on the day of Magh Shukla Ashtami, when the Sun was in Uttarayan. His Shraddha rituals were also performed during the Uttarayan movement. Consequently the practice of offering sesame seeds and water to appease the ancestors is still prevalent on Makar Sankranti.