Makar Sankranti
Also known as Tila Sankranti, the festival marks the starting of the summer season. People suppose that from this day on, the days become longer and the temperature of the sun also increases. Every year it is observed on the 14th of January.
Devotees make flower offerings to the deities of the temples at Hot springs and bathe in the holy water. Another historic place associated with fifteen day long Makar Sankranti mela is the Mandar hills in Banka region. Puranic legends accounts for a great deluge which witnessed the making of a Asura that threatened the gods. Vishnu cut off the Asura's head and piled up the body under the weight of the Mandar
hill.
The Famous
Panchjanya - the sankh (counch shell) used in the Mahabharat war is supposed to have been found here on the hills. Traces, akin to serpent coil can be seen around the hill and it is believed that the snake god offered himself to be used as a cord for churning the ocean to obtain the amrit (nectar).
