Mangalore: Makara Sankranthi on Saturday night and Sunday in Autumn season brings Sun as the Central part of all life, in the centre of a solar system of 9 or more planets.

He is entering a phase of journey to he North(Uttarayana) which is blessed for auspicious activities like house-building, marriage, education even death. The sun changes his position from Dhanu Rasi to Makara, and this critical juncture is Sankranti.

Devotees visit temple, after a bath in river or the sea and worship God through puja/prayers. In Kadri temple priests conduct Homa or fire rituals. The temple authorities arrange offerings as Naivedyam and Panchkajjaya, a blend of five materials like banana jaggery, coconut, sugarcane piece and puffed rice.

Snake worship also takes place with offerings.

There is great celebration in Ayyappa temples, especially in Sabarimalai during January 15. A Skylight is seen at dusk during Sankaranthi at Sabari hills.

People perform Ganahoma and Satyanarayana Puja during the day. Jaggery or sugar coated Til is given as Tilugur in Coastal areas at colonies with good wishes.