AGARTALA, Jan 14 (TIWN): Tripura which holds a mixed culture of Bengali & Tribals, has enormous festive traditions. One of them is called Makar Sankranti or Poush Shankranti. Makar Sankranti is celebrated with delicious food items as “Pitha” & every homes are decorated with rangolies and flowers.

However, tribals have already thronged to the market as a part of the preparation for this harvest-festival.

The celebration of Makar Sankranti is so much important for rural people, as this festival is basically related to harvesting. Harvesting is till day has remains as the basic occupation of Tripura’s maximum tribals.  

Traditionally, in the day of Makar Sankranti people takes holy dip at various holy places as Chakmaghat, Tirthamukh, Gomati, Howrah and other rivers. Kilte-flying and decorating homes are the wonderful parts of the traditional celebration. Drawing rangolies at homes are very popular regardless tribal & Bengalis. When it comes in the matter of food, the traditional pitha is available in everyone’s homes.

However, Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, is celebrated under varying names in different parts of India.

It’s interesting to note that  in Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal and in the North-Eastern parts it is celebrated as the "Poush" festival.

Surrounded with enormous hills, Tirthamukh in Tripura is famous for its scenic beauty. Since ancient times, on the auspicious day of "Poush" or "Makar Sankrati", the harvest festival, a Tirthamukh fair is organised and pilgrims flock here to take a dip in the holy water of river Gomati.

  According to the solar calendar, in mid-January the Sun enters Makar Rashi (or, the House of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac). People celebrated the harvesting of crops and enjoyed the traditional folk songs and dances.

The occasion is also observed as a time to pay respect for bringing peace to one's forefathers' divine souls. Many devotees including tribals and non-tribals from Tripura and neighbouring States worship for the departed souls. It is believed that a holy dip during "Makar Sankranti" purges all sins.