Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted citizens on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a mid-winter harvest festival marking the transition of the sun in the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar). It is celebrated in different parts of the country as per local traditions and customs.
“This sacred occasion of Sankranti is celebrated in various parts of the country according to local customs and traditions. I pray to Lord Surya for everyone’s happiness, prosperity, and excellent health,” the PM said in a post on X.
In another post on X, the Prime Minister also greeted the nation on the occasions of Uttarayan and Magh Bihu, which is celebrated in Assam and parts of the Northeastern region.
“Heartfelt greetings on the auspicious occasion of Uttarayan! May this sacred festival of Makar Sankranti fill your life with happiness, and may everyone be blessed with good health and well-being,” he wrote.
“May this joyful celebration also strengthen bonds of togetherness and usher in prosperity and positivity for all,” PM Modi added.
The PM said Magh Bihu celebrates the “joy of harvest, abundance and togetherness”, and wished prosperity, good health and happiness to all.
As per the annual tradition on the occasion of Ekadashi, a large number of devotees arrived at the Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to take a holy dip during the ongoing Magh Mela.
Security has been beefed up in the state that sees lakhs of people converge at the Sangam Ghat to take the dip despite the cold weather conditions. The administration has implemented high-security measures, with UP ATS mobile patrol squads monitoring the Magh Mela area.
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The second sacred bathing ritual (snan) of Magh Mela is slated to be held on Makar Sankranti, on January 15 in Prayagraj. This follows the Paush Purnima snan, in which over 31 lakh devotees took a holy dip.
Magh Mela Officer Rishi Raj informed that by 6 AM, over 9 lakh people had taken a dip, adding that “the entire police force has been deployed on the spot”.
“Even on the occasion of Ekadashi, many people are taking a bath. By 6 AM, around 9 lakh 50 thousand people have already taken a bath, and devotees are bathing at all our ghats...Makar Sankranti is tomorrow, but since it’s January 14th, people are still coming to bathe today, and our entire police force is deployed on the spot...and monitoring is being done at all places,” the officer said.
Soumya Agarwal, Divisional Commissioner, Prayagraj, assured of safety during the snaan on Makar Sankranti, saying the police have been briefed and heavy security deployed.
“The police and security personnel have been properly briefed, and heavy security has been deployed to ensure a safe bath during the festival.... We are expecting over 1 crore devotees on Makar Sankranti for the holy dip,” she said.
SP Magh Mela, Neeraj Pandey, affirmed that around 10,000 police personnel have been deployed and surveillance is ongoing to ensure “a safe snan”.
Additionally, devotees also took a holy dip in the River Saryu and offered prayers on Makar Sankranti in Ayodhya. In West Bengal, elaborate arrangements had been made for the Gangasagar Mela, with minister Sujit Bose claiming that “such a huge gathering has not been organised anywhere else in the country”.
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