KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: People across Odisha celebrated the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti with religious fervour and enthusiasm on Sunday.
Devotees took holy dip in ponds, tanks and rivers and visited temples in early morning to get a glimpse of their revered Lord. Many of them believe that a ritual bath on Makar Sankranti would wash away their sins.
Thousands of devotees gathered at Puri Jagannath temple to seek blessings of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
On this auspicious occasion, people prepared a special dish made with newly harvested rice, sugar, banana, coconut and black pepper and offered it to the gods. Another special dish, ‘Makar Chaula’, is also prepared on the occasion. The devotees exchange the special dish among themselves.
Kite-flying competitions are being organised in different places of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar with fun and enthusiasm.
In southern districts of Odisha, people decorated the front of their houses with colourful rangoli to celebrate Pongal today. The festival is mainly celebrated by the people belonging to Telugu community.
Ms Kalinga