Makar Sankranti dawned brightly over Varanasi, flooding its 84 ghats with an ocean of believers eager for divine communion. This sun-worshipping festival ignited fervor, blending age-old customs with vibrant community spirit along the Ganges.
At the bustling Mir Ghat, groups formed circles for collective prayers, their voices rising in harmonious bhajans. Holy dips commenced at auspicious muhurat, with turmeric-smeared bodies emerging renewed. Sesame-based tilkut and rewari sweets exchanged hands, fortifying bodies and souls alike.
The afternoon spectacle featured competitive kite battles, where skilled patangbaazs displayed prowess honed over generations. Laughter echoed as strings snapped and kites cascaded into the river, met with good-natured applause. This tradition symbolizes cutting ties with the past, embracing positive change.
Administrative measures shone through, with sanitized facilities and drone monitoring preventing mishaps. NGOs distributed khichdi to pilgrims, underscoring charity’s role in festivities.
Twilight brought the crescendo: massive aartis illuminating the ghats like a thousand suns. Floating lamps painted the Ganges golden, a visual poem of transcendence. As crowds dispersed, the resonance lingered—Makar Sankranti in Varanasi not only honors the harvest but weaves the fabric of eternal faith, drawing global seekers to its timeless embrace.