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Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti, also known as Sankranti and Sankranthi, is a festival commemorating the transition of Sun into the Makar Rashi (Zodiac Sign of Capricorn). While Sankranti defines for the movement of Sun from one Zodiac Sign to another, Makar defines for the Zodiac Sign in which it is moving.
Time of Celebration
Scientifically, when Sun moves from Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn, it is observed. Astrologically, when Sun moves from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana in the month of Poush, it is observed. According to Georgian calendar, it falls on the 14th of January, every year. This makes it one of the very few Hindu festivals which have one static date of observation in Georgian calendar.
Significance
The belief as stated above is somewhat traditional. In more general terms, this festival marks one of the many important harvest days of the year, with this one being one very important of all those. Precisely, it is a mark of the beginning of harvest days or spring season. From this day, days start getting longer and nights start getting shorter. It also represents for the ‘holy phase of transition’. It also marks an end to the inauspicious period which comes in presence from around mid-December. According to beliefs in Hinduism, it is one point of difference of time after which all sorts of auspicious practices or rituals can be performed.
Beliefs around This Day
1. It is on this day that Sun visits his son Shani (Lord of Makar). Though, they are not considered to be too cordial otherwise, but in spite of that, Sun makes sure to make a visit to Shani to meet him.
2. It is on this day that Lord Vishnu killed Asuras (demons) and buried their heads under Mandar Parvat.
Celebrations at Different Places
It is celebrated in various diversified parts of India, which have different cultural and religious setups. Besides India, it is also celebrated in various other countries such as Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, though with different names and in different ways.
India is as vast with its land as it is with its cultures and diversities. Owing to the same, this festival is celebrated in wide and varied forms. As one chooses to transit from one culture to another or one agriculture environment to another, one will sense a thick change in the way this festival is observed and celebrated. Other than that, different places call it with different names. For instance, it is ‘Uttarayan’ in Gujarat and Rajasthan, ‘Pongal’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Magh Bihu’ or ‘Bhogali Bihu’ in Assam valley, ‘Khichdi’ in Uttar Pradesh, ‘Maghi’ in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, and so on.
Rituals and Celebrations
It is an extremely significance festival, which one can sketched out of the fact that it holds a mentioning in Mahabharata, one of the greatest epics of all time. Accepting and adorning that significance, grand celebrations take place all over the country to mark the arrival of the very auspicious festival of Makar Sankranti. As already stated, different places with different cultural and agricultural backgrounds celebrate it differently. However, one common aspect of all those distinctive celebrations is the presence of immense joy, faith, and fervour. Here is an overview of the prominent ways with which this festival is celebrated.
- The entire day of Makar Sankranti, especially the period between sunrise and sunset, is considered as extremely auspicious. Following on the same, thousands of devotees take dip in holy water of Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krushna, and Kaveri during this period, with a belief that it will derive them with the benefits of highest merit.
- Offerings as made on this auspicious day till the day of Rathsaptami derive one with more virtue and benefits than any other time. One can offer new vessels, clothes, food, sesame seeds, jaggery, cow, horse, land, or gold to those who are in need. While making offerings, the feeling of doing the same rather than the quantity being offered is of more importance. One should always go forth making offerings according to one’s own capabilities.
- One should make sure to abide by righteous deeds during this period.
- On this day, married women should accept something from unmarried girls and should give them sesame seeds and jaggery in return. Also, they should make sure to be a part of Haldi-kumkum ceremony, as a part of which turmeric (haldi) and saffron (turmeric) is applied to the forehead, and perfume and rose-water is sprinkled over a married woman by another married woman. It is done with a belief that it activates Adi-shakti in the existence, and enhances spiritual emotion unto God. In the end, a gift is presented into the pallu of the sari. Preferably, items which reflect on religiousness and spirituality in some way or other should be gifted.
- Sun is regarded as a Lord in the beliefs of Hindu religion. He is the supreme symbol of energy, divinity, and wisdom. With his association with this festival, people also make sure to convey their devotedness to him.
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