Makara Sankranti (also called Maghi) is a festival day in the Hindu calendar dedicated to the deity Surya (Sun). This festival is observed every year and during the month of Magha (January in the Gregorian calendar). It is the day that the people of India celebrate their harvest. This day also marks the sun's transition into Makara which marks the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Makara Sankranti is observed with various festivities from the social to the traditional. There are melas (fairs) adorned with colorful decorations, feasts, dances, kite flying, and bonfires. During this time, children would also go from house to house to sing and ask for treats. Many observers of this festival would go to sacred rivers or lakes to bathe in ceremonious thanks to the sun.

Every 12 years, people would observe Makar Sankranti with a large mass pilgrimage. During the event, people would say a prayer to the sun and bathe at the Prayaga confluence of the River Ganga and River Yamuna at the Kumbha Mela. This is a tradition that is linked to Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century Indian philosopher, and theologian. He is credited as the one who unified and established the main schools of thought in Hinduism. Do you know what else happens around this season? There are also plenty of movie releases around January to entertain people. Check out our list of some of the best movies to be released in Sankranti 2020. There are a lot of Telugu movies releasing this month so if you're a fan, you'll have a lot to look forward to.