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Puri Foundation proud to be sponsoring NHSF (UK)
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By Sanjay Parekh
NHSF Learning Team
14th January 2010 (14th Paush in the Hindu calendar)
Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 14 each year, as the sun enters the rashi Capricorn. Sankranti means the entry of the sun from one zodiac to another. From the south, the sun shifts northwards and hence the day is also known as Uttarayan. Daylight hours increase from this day and the actual Sankranti occurs in an extremely short period.
Historical Significance
This festival celebrated every year, has both astronomical and geographical implications related to Planet Earth. It can therefore be termed as a 'Festival of Nature'. Our Earth, which revolves around the Sun and rotates on its own axis, has a periodical movement. It circles around Sun in an oval manner. Every six months it swings from one end to another. Those two points of transition of Earth are celebrated among the Hindu community as Sankramanas - Makara Sankramana in January and Karkataka (Mithuna) Sakramana in June.
Looking from Earth, the Sun's northward journey begins around 22nd December. Hindu calendars (Panchangas), which are ages old, give this date as the commencement for Uttarayana. An ayana is a period of six months. Every year has two ayanas: Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Uttarayana is the northward journey of the Sun, Dakshinayana is the southward journey. 22nd December is therefore the shortest day. Makara Sankramana falls during Uttarayana. It is on this day that the Sun rises latest in the day (but the day is not the shortest), as the Sun enters the zodiac of Makara. In other words, if we look at the eastern horizon at a fixed time in the morning on Makra Sankramana day, the Sun appears to be at the lowest point with respect to the horizon. From this day onwards, the Sun rises sooner and sooner with each passing day, till Karkataka (Mithuna) Sankramana (early June).
Festival Meaning
The festival has several different names, each with its own significance:
- SANKRAMANA means 'transition', applicable to:
| - The Earth's movement in its revolution around the Sun,
- The gradual change in nature,
- Changes in society, which are inevitable. In contrast to revolution which is drastic and imposed, the changes in evolution are welcome as natural phenomena.
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- MAKARA is the zodiac sign to which the Sun transits on this day.
- UTTARAYANA means 'brighter' and hence the better six months of a year. As already explained, the days become brighter, longer and warmer after this festival owing to the transit of the Sun.
- PUNYA KAALA means 'meritorious or auspicious period'. The increase in daylight, ending of winter, increase in warmth, reappearance of leaves upon trees and greenery in nature all add to the feeling of some auspicious time approaching.
- PONGAL is the name of the special food prepared from the ingredients of the early crops of the arriving harvest in the southern parts of India.
| - People welcome this change in season in many different ways. Some bathe in sacred water; give oblations to deceased forefathers (tarpana), clean up their homes, and exchange greetings with loved ones.
- Some prepare a special food called pancha-kajjaya - a mixture of five ingredients: jaggery, coconut, peanuts (groundnuts), til and broken peas. They distribute a handful of pancha-kajjya to other houses which is an expression of sharing, friendship and love within the community.
- Pongal, a delicious and a favourite food is prepared in every home especially by farmers from the fresh crops of the early harvest. It is offered to the Almighty as a mark of gratitude to be eaten as His blessings.
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Rituals
There are many different, but significant rituals observed on Makar Sankranti.
Along with Pancha-kajjaya, people also distribute sugarcane (a product of the harvest season) which represents sweetness. Various types of sugar-candy artistically made in various colours, shapes and sizes are also distributed along with Pancha-kajjaya. The sugar-candy may be in the form of trees, animals, Hindu gods and goddesses and other fanciful figures. Their taste is the same no matter whatever their appearance. This points to the Spirit within all created matter, as well as the unity in diversity. The Spirit is immortal, divine and sacred. In other words, apparent differences are to be ignored, what really matters is the integrity within. Underlining unity in diversity is a valuable message as well as a fitting welcome offered to the arriving harvest.
The practices in Sakramana give us many things to reflect upon. The law of change is eternal; we need to be prepared for changes around us and to welcome them. Welcoming the harvest reminds us that winter is coming to an end, and more importantly, that we have much to be thankful for. We must accept the differences between each of us, and learn to appreciate them. We should share our feelings with each other, and embrace the idea to 'live and let live'. These are the messages in the celebration of Makara Sankramana.
During Makar Sankranti it is a tradition for thousands of pilgrims to bathe in Prayag, at the confluence of three sacred rivers; Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, known as Triveni Sangam. In south India, the eve of Makar Sankranti is known as 'Bhogi.' All the waste bric-a-brac in the house is heaped in the front and burnt. Makar Sankranti is also known as Pongal. 'Pongal' means 'to overflow.' Rice is cooked in milk and the rice is allowed to flow over the rim. The symbolism is that one's home should brim with wealth.
It is the start of celebrations of the start of the harvest season in southern parts of India. In Gujarat grain from the new harvest is used to cook 'khichdo'. Cows and trees are also offered pujan since man's existence depends on them. People forget and forgive ill will. For this, they ritually offer each other food balls made of sesame seed and jaggery. This is common in Maharashtra too. In east India, at Gangasagar, thousands of pilgrims throng to Kapil Muni's ashram on this day for darshan.
Adults, children, even aged men and women, spiritedly fly kites all day.
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