Makar Sankranti celebrated with traditional fervour in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 (PTI) Revelry and camaraderiefilled the air as people across the state took ritualisticdips in rivers and visited temples on the occasion of MakarSankranti.
A large number of devotees thronged the seasidepilgrim town of Puri, 60km from here, to witness the specialrituals performed on this occasion at Sri Jagannath temple.
In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, people offeredprayers at Lord Lingaraj temple. Many were seen taking a dipin Bindu Sagar.
The Sun Temple at Konark also attracted numerousworshippers on the occasion. The festival marks the end ofwinter and the beginning of spring as the Sun moves northwardstowards the Tropic of Cancer.
Elsewhere too, devotees were seen making long queuesin front of temples since early morning.
Besides exchanging greetings, people organised feastsin various parts of the state with sweet dishes prepared fromnewly harvested rice, sugar, banana, coconut, ghee and blackpepper.
In the millennium city of Cuttack, the sky was dottedwith colourful kites. Enthusiasts were seen flocking toterraces of their homes to indulge in spirited kite-flyingcompetitions, a tradition synonymous with the festival. PTISKNRMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.