Makar Sankranti the pan India festival, known by various names (including Pongal) and is celebrated on the 14th of January every year. It bears some similarity to the thanksgiving festival celebrated in the western part of the world.
It comes under the solar month of Makara and the lunar month of Magha as per the Hindu calendar. People typically fly kites on this day to celebrate the festival in many parts of India. The day also involves people taking a holy bath in rivers to absolve their sins.
The day also marks the end of the winter season and subsequently, inauspicious times.
