India is a remarkable country in all aspects. Be its beautiful look on the map, its natural geographical boundaries, the worshipping craze for cricket and Bollywood or the daily festivals it celebrates. It is unique indeed. So are the inhabitants of this beautiful land. Being highly emotional, Indians don't find it difficult to express themselves. Joy, anger, gloom, Indians need to show it all. We convey everything in a manner that is notable. It hardly matters in what part of the world we live because we never lose out on our Indian-ness. The arrival of a new one (human or animal), the changing season, neighbors wedding, are likely to enthuse an Indian more than it does to anybody else.

More so, belonging to an agricultural country, we celebrate the onset of rain and the harvesting season with great fervour. The agricultural sector employs 2/3 of India's population, and contributes to 1/3 of its gross domestic product (GDP), which is representative of the number of people it affects. And, the celebration doubles up when there is a season change in addition to a ready harvest – a fete that all remember without the tithi dates- Makar Sankranti.

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus, and is celebrated on 14 January in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervor & gaiety. Makar Sankranti is the day when the glorious Sun-God of Hindus begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti is transition. Transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn, in the northern hemisphere is known as Makar Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Magha. Winter loosens its grip on cold, admitting springtime that brings with it the chance for all round health improvement.

This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country. A look at how the four directions celebrate it would be enlightening.

The granaries are full and thus the people come together and make a small hut type structures with the hay of the harvest fields and during the night, prepare food and there is community feasting everywhere. The structure built of logs of wood placed in pairs, tier above tier till they rise to considerable heights and present the appearance of a lofty temple.

The entire night is spent around a bonfire with people singing bihu songs, beating drums or playing games. The next morning, people gather and throw pithas (rice cakes) and betal nuts to it while burning it at the same time. They offer their prayers to the Fire God and mark the end of the harvesting year.

Many tribal in India start their New Year from the day of Sankranti by lighting bonfires, dancing and eating their particular dishes sitting together. The Bhuya tribal of Orissa have their Maghyatra in which small homemade articles are put for sale.

Sankranti or Uttarayan is one of the most celebrated festivals of Gujarat. People of all ages fly kites from dawn to dusk. Crowded rooftops, fun-loving rivalry to outdo each other in kite flying skills and delicious traditional Gujarati feast are the hallmarks of the day. The atmosphere at the festival is electrifying with glass strengthened threads of the kites that are matched against each other in the air, and the kite fighter who cuts the other thread is the victor. At night, the activity does not end-kites with tiny paper lanterns that are flown and held aloft, looking like bright twinkling stars. Typical food like Undhiya, sugar cane juice and local sweets are served to celebrate the day. Kite flying has been associated with this festival in a big way. It has become an internationally well-known event.

The Gujarat government has been organizing events under the' Vibrant Gujarat' title to facilitate the non-resident Indians to have a glimpse and feel of the festivals. Vibrant Gujarat Uttarayan 2004 was celebrated as a part of promoting Gujarat tourism and culture.

In Maharashtra on the Sankranti day people exchange multi-colored tilgud made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. This is a special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited for a get-together called 'Haldi-Kumkum' and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day.