Makarsankranti on 14 jan 2018 the upcoming festival of new year

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14th January - Makar Sankranti 

14 January is a public holiday as far as Rajasthan is a concern and this day signifies the arrival of warmer days. The festival is also dedicated to the sun god and marks the six months auspicious period for Hindus known as Uttarayan Where Bhishma Pitamah waited for the sun to be in Uttarayan for him to die willingly is the importance of Uttarayan is exhibited in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Makar Sankranti is believed to be a time for peace and prosperity. The day is regarded as important for spiritual practices and accordingly, people take a holy dip in rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery. The bathing is believed to wash away sins. People in north India celebrate it as a festival of family and kites, you eat, enjoy and get a blessing from your elders and loved ones. The day starts with kites and finished with love and affection towards all.  

Til ka ladoo is the trademark of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti as it is called in north India. It is said to be the first festival as it arrives in the month of January followed by Mahashivratri, Holi etc. And in other parts, its significance is period is a part of early stages of the Rabi crop and agricultural cycle, where crops have been sown and the hard work in the fields is mostly over. The time thus signifies a period of socializing and families enjoying each other's company, taking care of the cattle, and celebrating around bonfires. 

And for Rajasthan, this occasion the sky in Jaipur and Hadoti regions is filled with kites, and youngsters engage in contests trying to cut each other's strings. Music is the one thing that is on from 5 am to late until midnight. People end up with a campfire on the terrace and by blowing the "LANTERN". The sky in morning is filled with kites and at night is filled with lantern.