On the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti the devotees from places have gathered at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya and took a holy dip. A devotee in the Ghat said, “Feeling happy to be in Ayodhya. We used to hear what Ayodhya used to be like in ancient times and today Ayodhya has become the same as it used to be under Raja Dashrath. We came here to take a holy dip because of our faith in God.”
The devotees at the Sarayu Ghat did realize a significant change (development) ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. A devotee said, “Ayodhya is developing well. It has become an international city. As the city will become a tourism hub, people will get more employment opportunities. Taking inspiration from Ayodhya, people must make their cities clean and contribute their best.”
However, taking a holy dip in Ganga river has its own significance. The celestial occurrence ushers in a new dawn, of hope as the Sun migrates from Dhanu to Makar (Capricorn), making a northward movement called Uttarayan. This transit make days longer than nights and also brings about changes to the weather conditions. Therefore people celebrate the end of harsh cold climate and the arrival of the new harvest soon.
In West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, ‘Gangasagar Mela’ is held that attracts thousands of devotees and pilgrims.