Importance of giving a gift on Makar Sankranti

Makara Sankranti is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of India and Nepal in a myriad of cultural forms, with great devotion, fervor, and gaiety. It is a harvest festival. Makara means Capricorn Zodiac Sign and Sankranti means transition of the Sun from one zodiac sign to another. Thus Makar Sankranti is the day that marks the transition of the Sun into Makara Rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India.

1. Giving a gift to another woman amounts to surrendering to the Divinity in the other, through body, mind and wealth. Since the period of Makar Sankranti is favorable for spiritual practice, a gift given during this period results in bestowal of Divine grace and the individual gets the desired fruit.

2. What should be gifted on Makar Sankranti ?

Nowadays a wrong trend of gifting inappropriate commodities like soaps and plastic items has started. Instead, substances that are complementary to spiritual practice and are indicators of a married life, for example incense sticks, ubtan (fragrant powder used during bath), religious texts, Holy texts, pictures of Deities, CDs on spiritual topics etc. should be gifted.