Harvest Festival-In Maharashra it is celebrated as Til-gul

Makara Sankranti is the harvest festival of India. Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one zodiacal sign (Rashi) to the other. There are 12 Rashis. Similarly, there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the transition of Sun from Dhanu Rashi to Makara Rashi (Sagittarius to Capricorn) is celebrated as Makara Sankranti. It marks ‘Uttarayanaramba’, the starting of Uttarayana (holy period) which means northern movement of Sun or beginning of sun’s northward glide on the zodiacal chart, marking the decline of winter.

People of diverse cultures from different parts of India celebrate Makara Sankranti in different names and ways based on their tradition reflecting the cultural ethos of the land. This harvest festival is also a form of thanks giving to mother-nature and the farm animals for assisting in reaping a good harvest.

In order to show their appreciation for mother nature and animals, farmers pray to the Sun and offer him the first meal prepared from the harvest. The cow which assisted the farmer in ploughing his land is bathed, coloured in turmeric, fed with rich food and then finally taken on a parade.

It is believed that this festival has been celebrated since the time of Aryans and is looked upon as the most auspicious day by the Hindus.

Makara Sankranti is also known for pongal (sweet rice) and yellu (a mixture of jaggery, peanuts, sesame etc). During this festival mixture of jaggery and sesame is distributed to neighbours, friends and relatives to show affection. The jaggery signifies love and the sesame signifies friendship.

Though, the festival is celebrated differently in various parts of the country, the use of sesame is common throughout. In some States Makara Sankranti goes on for four-days, while in Karnataka it is a one-day festival. The Sankranti dishes also vary from State to State. But the rice based pongal is for the most part the same through out the country.

This Weekend Star Supplement brings the various aspects of Makara Sankranti and the numerous ways in which this harvest festival is celebrated in different parts of the country.

In Maharashra it is celebrated as Til-gul

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=specialnews&item=2917

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SIGNIFICANCE OF MAKARA SANKRANTI

City-based Maharshi Man-dara, Scientific Astrology and Vastu Consultant, a Ph.D. holder in Astrology and Vastu from AIFAS (All India Federation of Astrologers Society), Delhi, speaks to Star of Mysore on the importance and significance of Makara Sankranti. Mandara is the daughter of novelist S. Mangala Satyan and Originator of Kannada crosswords S. Satyanarayana. Excerpts

SOM: What is the significance of Makara Sankranti?

Maharshi Mandara (MM): According to the solar calendar, a month is determined based on the movement of Sun from one rashi (zodiac sign) to another. There are twelve such signs. This movement is called Sankramana. Sankranti means Samyak Kranti. Sun’s entry into Makara rashi (Capricorn) is called Makara Sankranti. Makara means “crocodile”. Kranti means “change”. Makara represents “the materialistic world”. So Makara Sankranti means “moving away from the clutches of the materialistic world.”

SOM: Among the twelve Sankramanas, why is Makara Sankranti so important?

MM: When Sun enters Mesha and Tula, the Sankranti is called Vishuva. When Sun enters Makara, it is called Saumyan. When Sun enters Kataka, it is called Yamayan. When Sun enters dual signs Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanu, Meena the Sankranti is called Shadad Sheetyanan. When Sun enters fixed signs Vrishabha, Simha, Vrischika, Kumbha the Sankranti is called Vishnupadha. Among these twelve Sankramanas, only Makara Sankramana has historical, scientific, spiritual and astrological significance. Hence it is important.

SOM: Why is Uttarayana auspicious?

MM: Sun’s movement towards northern hemisphere is called Uttarayana and the movement towards southern hemisphere is called Dakshinayana. During Uttarayana, days are longer and in Dakshinayana, nights are longer. A year on earth is equal to one day of celestial. Celestial’s day commences from Uttarayana and their night commences from Dakshinayana. It means Makara Sankranti is the beginning of the day of Gods. So Uttarayana is an auspicious part of the year. Marriages, Gruha Praveshas, Upanayanam and such other auspicious occasions can take place only during Uttarayana. The supreme hero of Mahabharat, Bhishma who had the boon of Icchamrityu from his father left for his heavenly abode on this Sankranti day. On January 14, Sun moves from Dhanu to Makara. Uttarayana commences from that day.

SOM: What is the historical significance of this festival?

MM: On this day, Lord Vishnu ended the reign of Asuras and buried their heads under the Mandara Parvat. Maharaja Bhagirat did tapasya to bring River Ganga down to the earth for redemption of sixty thousand sons of Maharaja Sagara who were burnt to ashes at Kapila Muni ashram. Finally, on this Sankranti day, Bhagirat did tarpan with Ganga water for his unfortunate ancestors. Arjuna started Dhanurvidya (Archery) on this Sankranti day.

SOM: Enunciate the astrological significance of the festival?

MM: Sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makara, which is the house of his son, Shani. Makara rashi symbolizes peace and contentment. Though, according to vedic sciences, Shani and his father (Sun) are enemies, Sun comes to his son’s house for a period of one month. This shows the special relationship of father and son and son’s responsibility to carry forward his father’s dream.

SOM: Explain the scientific significance of the festival?

MM: Earth revolves around the Sun and also rotates on its own axis and has a periodical movement. To complete one elliptic orbit round the Sun, Earth takes one year (365.2422 days). Earth’s equatorial path comprises 360 degrees. These 360 degrees are divided into 12 rashis (zodiac). Earth moves round the Sun in an elliptic path. Every six months, it swings from one end to another. Those two points of transition of Earth are celebrated among Hindu community as Sankramana. Sun’s northern transit is called Makara Sankranti and southern transit is called Karka Sankranti. On January 14 (sometimes on January 15), Sun moves from Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makara (Capricorn).

SOM: What are the special poojas and prayers offered on this day? And the significance attached to this day?

MM: In Nirayana calendar, this is the only festival which is related to Sun’s movement. So the main deity is Sun. One should get up early in the morning, have bath and Kolam (dotted rangoli), which symbolises relationship, is drawn in front of the house. Water and flowers are offered to Sun accompanied by the chanting of Gayatri mantra. Rice is boiled in milk outdoors in earthen pots tied with turmeric plants around its neck. This is offered to Sun with other offerings like sugarcane, coconut, banana etc.

SOM: What is the significance of cattle and all domestic animals decorated in villages and made to jump or walk on the fire?

MM: This is a festival of “thanksgiving” to bulls which help the farmers to plough their agricultural fields. As part of the festival, cattle are given a wash and their horns painted with bright colours, multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, and flower garlands are tied around their and taken in a procession accompanied by band and music. Arathi is performed to them. At night, a bonfire is lit and the cattle is made to jump over the fire, called ‘Kichchu’.. to ward off the evil.

SOM: What are the special delicacies prepared in Karnataka and other parts?

MM: Huggi (sweet pongal) is a special food in Sankranti which is prepared with moong dal (green gram), rice, milk and jaggery. In winter season, human skin often becomes dry because of the humidity in the air is substantially low. Sodium along with potassium equalises alkaline factors in the blood and regulates the water balance within the body which is important in maintaining the skin in good health. Rheumatic afflictions are also common in this season. Moong dal in huggi contains carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamin c, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. Potassium and sodium are rich in moong dal.

SOM: What does giving mixture of til, jaggery, sugarcane, yelachihannu and dhanyas (Yellu beeruvudu) etc. Imply?

MM: On Sankranti day, Yellu Bella (sesame + jaggery) also has an important significance. Yellu represents Shani and Bella represents Surya. This is a symbolic bonding of father and son. Yellu brimming with fragrant and delicious oil stands for friendship and comradeship and Bella for the sweetness of speech and behaviour. All tropical crops are also distributed with yellu bella.

SOM: Why do people pour yellu on children (Yellu yereyuvudu)?

MM: Yellu has oil which is helpful to skin. Bella contains magnesium which strengthens the nervous system and potassium balances the alkaline factors. Iron is helpful to increase the red blood corpuscles. Elaachi is rich in moisture and potassium which is helpful to skin. Hence people put this mixture on children as a gesture of blessing.

SOM: Why was Sankranti celebrated on Jan. 15 this year?

MM: Some decades ago Makara Sakranti was observed on January 12 and later on 13. Now it is on 14 or 15 depending on the movement of the Sun from South to North. Some decades later it may be observed on different days. This is year it was on the 15th and in 2095, it will be on 16th . In 2150, it will be on the 17th.

— SP

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=specialnews&item=2918

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MAKARA SANKRANTI

Makara Sankranti is the harvest festival of India. Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one zodiacal sign (Rashi) to the other. There are 12 Rashis. Similarly, there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the transition of Sun from Dhanu Rashi to Makara Rashi (Sagittarius to Capricorn) is celebrated as Makara Sankranti. It marks ‘Uttarayanaramba’, the starting of Uttarayana (holy period) which means northern movement of Sun or beginning of sun’s northward glide on the zodiacal chart, marking the decline of winter.

People of diverse cultures from different parts of India celebrate Makara Sankranti in different names and ways based on their tradition reflecting the cultural ethos of the land. This harvest festival is also a form of thanks giving to mother-nature and the farm animals for assisting in reaping a good harvest.

In order to show their appreciation for mother nature and animals, farmers pray to the Sun and offer him the first meal prepared from the harvest. The cow which assisted the farmer in ploughing his land is bathed, coloured in turmeric, fed with rich food and then finally taken on a parade.

It is believed that this festival has been celebrated since the time of Aryans and is looked upon as the most auspicious day by the Hindus.

Makara Sankranti is also known for pongal (sweet rice) and yellu (a mixture of jaggery, peanuts, sesame etc). During this festival mixture of jaggery and sesame is distributed to neighbours, friends and relatives to show affection. The jaggery signifies love and the sesame signifies friendship.

Though, the festival is celebrated differently in various parts of the country, the use of sesame is common throughout. In some States Makara Sankranti goes on for four-days, while in Karnataka it is a one-day festival. The Sankranti dishes also vary from State to State. But the rice based pongal is for the most part the same through out the country.

This Weekend Star Supplement brings the various aspects of Makara Sankranti and the numerous ways in which this harvest festival is celebrated in different parts of the country.

In Maharashra it is celebrated as Til-gul

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=specialnews&item=2917