Saṅkrānti is one of the most important festivals of the Sanātana Ārya Bhāratiyas. In scriptures it is called by other names such as Saṅkrānti, Makarasaṅkrānti, Makarasaṅkramaṇa, Makarasaṅkramaṇa, and Uttarāyaṇa puṇyakāla also. In Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal. Common people also call this as 'Ellina Habba'. Though the distribution of sesame is in vougue in the next festival also i.e. 'rathasaptamī', it is only Saṅkrānti which is renownedly associated with the significance and fame pertaining to the gifting of sesame, and thus is well known as Eḷḷina habba. The Kannada proveb "Eḷḷu bellava tindu oḷḷeya māthanāḍu' owes it's origin to this festival.
