Makar Sankranti is being celebrated with great religious fervour across the country, with Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj witnessing an unprecedented influx of devotees. A massive crowd gathered at the Triveni Sangam on the occasion of the Magh Mela, where lakhs of pilgrims took a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati. The sacred bath on Makar Sankranti is considered highly auspicious, as it marks the transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn, signifying the beginning of Uttarayan. According to Hindu scriptures, Uttarayan is regarded as the day of the gods, making charity, prayer and ritual bathing especially significant. Devotees believe that bathing at the Sangam on this day helps cleanse sins and brings spiritual and physical well-being by balancing the three doshas — Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Saints and religious texts, including references by poet Tulsidas, have long praised the spiritual importance of Prayagraj during this period.

