AGARTALA, January 15 (TIWN): Makar Sankranti, the colourful harvest festival, was celebrated on Thursday with pomp and gaiety across Tripura among Tribal and Bengali populations. Devotees took holy dip into cold waters of Chakmaghat, Tirthamukh, Gomati, Howrah and other rivers and lakes across Tripura. Villages in wore a festive look with decorated houses, kite-flying and other rural sports.With the Bengali and Tribal ladies across the state especially in the rural Tripura were busy with the traditional drawing of rangolis, popularly known as “Alpona” and making delicious flavored patty, commonly known as “Pitha” at their house, the Makar Sankranti, also known as Poush Sankranti is celebrated here on Thursday.Braving the chilly weather, the devotees began taking dips at the Chakmaghat from the early hours of the day.

The houses were decorated with marigold flowers and mango leaves.

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival that marks the day when the sun starts to travel northwards from the tropic of Capricorn, marking the decline of winter. In the rural areas, the villagers were witnessed to be celebrating the festival with more fervent - Sankranti being a harvest festival after all. Cattle are worshipped and thanked for the vital role they play in the life of farmers and their families. With another new day of rejoice and happiness, the people today as per the tradition has taken a bath during the dawn hours with the Bengali ladies later getting busy making patty, popularly known as “Pitha”.

The women today especially in the rural Tripura have made their house dirt free early in the morning and have drawn a rangolis, commonly known as “Alpona” in their house courtyard. On the other the children after taking their bath sat for a picnic in their handmade small hut, known as “Burir Ghor”.  
Though the celebration of traditional festivals seem to be on the decline in many urban centers, but starting from the adults to the children in the urban cities did celebrated the Poush Sankranti with much fervor and gaiety.

Devotees performing rituals at Chakmaghat, Teliamura.TIWN Pic Jan 15

Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day celebrated in almost every part of India. Most of them enjoy flying beautiful kites all the day long. It may have different names in different states but all enjoy in one way and that it food - sweets and spicy. To celebrate this harvest festival, in all bengali homes, mothers and grandmothers get busy making a special kind of sweet named 'Pithe', which is made with rice flour. Another special thing is needed is Palm Jaggery(khejurer Gur), which is only available in winter season. Once you taste this, you will never forget the taste of this special sweet. There are many kinds of Pithe, namely Puli Pithe, Gokul Pithe, Dudh Puli, Patishapta Pithe and many more.  

Makar Sankranti is among the most auspicious occasions for Hindus and is celebrated in almost all parts of India. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated in many cultural forms with immense devotion, fervor and cheerfulness. In rural and coastal areas, cock fights are held as an important event of the festival. As the festival is celebrated in winters, food prepared in this festival is made to keep the body warm and give energy. Laddu of Til (Sesame) made with Jaggery is the festivals speciality. The festival of Makara Sankranti also honours and pays respect to Saraswati - Goddess of Knowledge. Makara Sankranti represents a period of illumination, peace, affluence and happiness.

A housewife making pithas at Lankamura, Indo-Bangla border area near Agartala. TIWN Pic Jan 15