Devotees Brave Cold for Sacred River Dips in Himachal on Makar Sankranti
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Synopsis
On January 14, 2023, devotees in Himachal Pradesh celebrated Makar Sankranti by taking holy dips in the rivers despite the cold weather. Major gatherings were held at Tattapani and Manikaran, highlighting community spirit and traditions associated with this auspicious festival.
Key Takeaways
- Devotees gathered in Himachal Pradesh for Makar Sankranti.
- Significant crowds at Tattapani and Manikaran for holy dips.
- Hot springs in these areas are popular pilgrimage spots.
- Community kitchens are a tradition during this festival.
- The ‘khichdi bhandara’ has been celebrated for 96 years.
Shimla/Manali, Jan 14 (NationPress) Devotees from all over Himachal Pradesh gathered on Tuesday to take a dip in the rivers despite the chilly weather, celebrating the significant festival of Makar Sankranti. A considerable crowd was observed at Tattapani, located about 52 km from the state capital, and Manikaran, famous for its Sikh shrine in Kullu district, as they sought a holy immersion in the Sutlej and Parvati rivers, respectively. Both Tattapani and Manikaran, renowned for their hot sulphur springs, attracted numerous devotees mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
“As in previous years, we anticipate over 20,000 devotees for Makar Sankranti this time as well,” stated a priest from Tattapani during a phone conversation with IANS.
Similarly, devotees also participated in a sacred bath at the Vashist temple, located on the outskirts of the well-known tourist hub, Manali. This temple, positioned on the left bank of the Beas River, is also celebrated for its hot springs.
Makar Sankranti, an important harvest festival observed in various regions of the country, signifies the onset of warmer and longer days in comparison to the nights.
It is a common practice for communities to organize kitchens to celebrate these occasions. The natural and significant hot springs that faded after the establishment of the 800 MW Koldam hydroelectric power project by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) along the Sutlej in Tattapani have now been revitalized.
The Durga Devi Bihari Lal Brochan Lal Charitable Trust, based in Shimla, has been organizing the traditional ‘khichdi bhandara’ at Tattapani for 96 years on Makar Sankranti.
“The ‘khichdi bhandara’ serves as a modest offering to the community, where everyone unites as one family to enjoy warm ‘khichdi with ghee’,” articulated trust chairman Ramesh Chand Sood.
In 2020, a massive ‘khichdi’ weighing 1,995 kg was prepared collaboratively by the state’s Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the trust in a single pot to commemorate Makar Sankranti, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.
