Makar Sankranti Legends

Most of the legends associated with Makar Sankranti centres around the movement of the sun from the southern to the northern hemisphere into the house of Makar or Capricorn. It is said that the great patriarch of Mahabharata fame, Bhishma, chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna on the battleground of Kurukshetra. With a boon to choose the time of his death, Bhishma waited on a bed of arrows until the day of Makar Sankranti. It is believed that those who die in this period have no rebirth.

In most of the Indian states, there is a belief that taking a holy dip in the river and worshipping the Sun brings good fortune to the family. Especially in the Indo-Gangetic plains, people begin this day by taking holy dips in the Ganga and offering water to the Sun God. A dip in this holy river is said to purify the self and bestow punya. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. Another belief has it that girls who take the holy dip get handsome husbands while boys get beautiful brides.