Tattapani Makarsankranti Fair now a district level fair

• Chief Minister declared the Maha Makarsankranti fair, Tattapani as district level festival, as government is committed to promote religious tourism at Tattapani and to restore its lost glory.
• The matter regarding restoration of springs and ‘Bathing Ghats ’would soon be taken up both with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (SJVNL) to soon prepare the detailed report of the project and undertake the restoration work soon.
• Makarsankranti festival was celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm at Tattapani. Recollecting old memories, he said that he used to come for a holy dip way back when the sulphur springs were just adjacent to the banks of the river Sutlej and this festival was of great importance to the people of Tattapani and adjoining areas.
• There was lot of scope for religious and adventure tourism in the state and every measure will be taken to restore the lost glory of Tattapani.
• Govt. directed the SJVNL for developing a ground near and around Tattapani and directed to prepare detailed Project report of Karsog by-pas as soon as possible, and to prepare DPR for a road to Maanju, and announced a sum of Rs.10 lakh to begin with initially.

About Makar Sankranti :

Makara Sankranti, also known as Makaraa Sankranti )or Maghi, is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to deity Surya (sun). It is observed each year in January. It marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days. Makara Sankranti is one of the few ancient Indian festivals that has been observed according to solar cycles, while most festivals are set by the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar. Being a festival that celebrates the solar cycle, it almost always falls on the same Gregorian date every year (January 14), except in some years when the date shifts by a day for that year. The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names such as Maghi (preceded by Lohri) by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs, Makara Sankranti (Pedda Pandaga) in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, Sukarat in central India, Magh Bihu by Assamese, and Pongal by Tamils.

Every twelve years, the Hindus observe Makar Sankranti with one of the world's largest mass pilgrimages, with an estimated 40 to 100 million people attending the event. At this event, they say a prayer to the sun and bathe at the Prayaga confluence of the River Ganga and River Yamuna at the Kumbha Mela, a tradition attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

Tattapani :

Tattapani village is located in Mandi district at a distance of 45 km from Shimla and 29 km from Naldehra. It is situated on the right bank of river Sutlej at an altitude of 2,230 ft. above the sea level. In local language, ‘Tattapani’ means ‘hot water’. The place is famous for its hot water springs that is spread over an area of one square kilometre.The spring water is said to have curative powers that provide relief from ailments like joint pain, fatigue, stress relief, and poor blood circulation, and reduces fat and skin diseases.

Activities in Tattapani:

River Rafting-Tattapani is a destination for water sport activity fanatics. River rafting in the cold water of River Sutlej, one of the longest rivers of India can be a lot of fun and exciting.

Makar-Sankranti at Tattapani :

Makar-Sankranti is celebrated every year at Tattapani on the banks of river Sutlej, (now a reservoir, Kol Dam), with great fervour, enthusiasm and gaiety from times immemorial wherein people from far off corners come to take a holy dip in hot water springs. However, after the reservoir submerged the hot water springs the state government had restored few by drilling at Tattapani keeping in the view the unwavering faith of the people for a holy dip on several occasions.