Uttarayani Kauthig fest brings hill culture to Lko

People relish khichdi on the occasion of Makar Sankranti; (right) women from Maharashtra take part in rituals in Lucknow on Tuesday. MUSHTAQ ALI/HT

- HT Correspondent

LUCKNOW: It was a day of festivities for people from different communities in the city on Tuesday. Their rituals and ways of celebration were diverse, but they were united by the spirit of celebrating the new harvest.

While city residents relished khichdi, made donations, and enjoyed kite flying throughout the day, ISKCON distributed khichdi as prasad to over 1 lakh devotees, and a kavi sammelan was organised by the Lete Hue Hanumanji Temple to mark the occasion.

The Odia community celebrated Makar Sankranti by offering khichdi to Lord Jagannath. "Several delicacies like kheer and pitha (steamed suji or rice balls stuffed with coconut and jaggery) are also prepared at home. We also fly kites to mark the festival," said DR Sahu, president of the Odia Samaj.

Makar Sankranti holds special significance for married Maharashtrian women, who dressed in green sarees and performed the ritual of Haldi Kumkum, exchanging black sesame seeds, gulal, and haldi-kumkum.

"We also exchange til-gud ladoos while saying, 'Til Gud ghya ani god god bola' (Have sesame and jaggery and spread sweetness among all), and puran poli is prepared as part of the celebration," said Shobha Patil.