Saṅkrānti (सङ्क्रान्ति) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “first day of
the solar month”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such
as the Manusmṛti. The name Sankranti is a general one given to the day on
which the sun passes from one sign of the Zodiac (Rasi) to another; yet it
has a restricted application and special reference to the day on which the
sun enters the house called Makara (Capricornus) in the Tamil month of Tai
corresponding to the English month January-February. The occasion is called
‘Makara-sankranti’ though the Tamil-speaking people have given the festival
day the name “Pongak Pandigai” for the reason that the newly harvested rice
is first cooked and the preparation goes by the name “Pongal”.
Makarasaṅkrānti (मकरसङ्क्रान्ति).—Winter solstice is known as
Makara-Saṅkrānti or Uttarāyana. The word Uttarāyana, as in the original
Sūryasiddhānta text, was initially meant to indicate the six month’s period
when the sun moves to the north, but in later course, the date of winter
solstice also came to acquire this name. For the Hindus the importance of
the Ayana-Saṇkrāntis (Makara-Saṇkrānti and Karkaṭa-Saṇkrānti) is
‘unparalleled’. Uttarāyana is most preferred because it is situated in the
path of the devayāna-mārga (the path to the world of Gods leading finally
to emancipation or salvation). Makarasaṅkrānti can also be spelled as
Makarasaṃkrānti.
The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names
including
Sankranthi or Peddha Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Khichari in Bhojpuri region,
Magh Bihu in Assam,
Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh,
Makara vilak in Kerala,
Makara sankranti in Karnataka,
Maghi Sangrand in Punjab,
Pongal in Tamil Nadu,
Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain (Uttarayana) in Jammu,
Sakrat in Haryana,
Sakraat in Rajasthan,
Sukarat in central India,
Uttarayana in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh,
Ghughuti in Uttarakhand,
Dahi Chura in Bihar,
Makar Sankranti in Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal
(also called Poush Sankranti or Mokor Sonkranti),
Uttar Pradesh (also called Khichidi Sankranti), Uttarakhand (also
called Uttarayani) or as simply,
Maghe Sankranti (Nepal),
Songkran (Thailand),
Thingyan (Myanmar),
Mohan Songkran (Cambodia),
Til Sakraat in Mithila,
and Shishur Senkrath (Kashmir).
On Makar Sankranti, Surya (Hindu solar deity) is worshipped along with
Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi throughout India.
Every twelve years, the Hindus observe Makar Sankranti with Kumbha Mela
– one of the world's largest mass pilgrimage, with an estimated 60 to 100
million people attending the event. At this event, they say a prayer to the
Sun and bathe at the Prayagaraj confluence of the River Ganga and River
Yamuna, a tradition attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Makar Sankranti is a
time of celebration and thanks giving, and is marked by a variety of
rituals and tradition.
Makar Sankranti: Marks the transition of the Sun into Makara
rashi on its celestial path, and the six-month Uttarayana period. Makara
Sankranti is also called as Uttarayana – the day on which the sun begins
his northward journey The traditional Indian calendar is based on lunar
positions, Sankranti is a solar event. The date of Makar Sankranti remains
constant over a long term, 14 January or occasionally, 15 January as the
Sun begins to rise in Makara Rashi.
Mesha Sankranti: Marks the beginning of the New Year in the
traditional Hindu Solar Calendar. On this day, the sun enters the sidereal
Aries, or Mesha rashi. It generally falls on 14/15 April. Regional New Year
festivals also take place on this day: Vaisakhi in the Punjab region, Pana
Sankranti in Odisha and on the day after Mesha Sankranti, Pohela Boishakh
in the Bengal region.
Dhanu Sankranti: celebrated on the first day of lunar Pausha
month. In Southern Bhutan and Nepal it is celebrated by eating wild potatoes
Karka Sankranti: July 16, marks the transition of the Sun into
Karka rashi. This also marks the end of the six-month Uttarayana period of
Hindu calendar, and the beginning of Dakshinayana, which itself end at
Makar Sankranti.
*\Significance of Makar Sankranti*
Makar Sankranti has an astrological significance, as the sun enters the
Capricorn zodiac constellation on that day. This date remains almost
constant with respect to the Gregorian calendar. However, precession of the
Earth’s axis causes Makar Sankranti to move over the ages. A thousand years
ago, Makar Sankranti was on 31 December and is now on 14 January. According
to calculations, commencing the year 2050, Makar Sankranti will fall on 15
January and occasionally on 16 January.
Sankranti - Importance of Makar SankrantiMakar Sankranti is a major harvest
festival celebrated in various parts of India. Makara Sankranti
commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the
northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac
sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the
Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Sanskrit, this occasion is named as
Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian
festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January
Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the
beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the ‘holy
phase of transition’. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which
according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed
that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu
family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of
warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti
marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or
spring season.
All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare.
However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different
parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the
festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor.
The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like
Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day
also holds a historical and religious significance. As it is the festival
of Sun God, and he is regarded as the symbol of divinity and wisdom, the
festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.
2.Mesha Sankranti
Mesha Sankranti is a Hindu festival and refers to the day when the sun
enters the Zodiac sign of Mesha. The day represents the vernal equinox
which occurs around 21 March but the day is marked in April. The day is
important in solar and lunisolar calendars followed on the subcontinent.
Mesha Sankranti is a solar event and generally falls on 13 April but
sometimes also falls on 14 April according to the Gregorian calendar.
Many regional calendars have two elements: lunar and solar. The lunar
element is based on the movement of the moon and counts each month from
either new moon to new moon, full moon to full moon,or the day after the
full moon to the next full moon. The lunar element forms the basis of
religious calendars and begin the year in Chaitra. Many regions begin the
local new year with the commencement of the lunar calendar: Gudi Padwa in
Maharashtra; Cheti Chand for the Sindhi community; and Navreh in Kashmir.
In Gujarat, the regional year commences with the lunar month of Kartika
after Diwali.
The solar element of lunisolar calendars begin the year in Vaisakha on
Mesha Sankranti hence why the day is also called Vaisakha Sankranti. This
day is observed by people across India, even in regions which begin the new
year using the lunar calendar. However, some regions also begin the
regional new year on Mesha Sankranti.
Mesha Sankranti is observed by people to mark the solar new year
irrespective of when the regional new year is observed. The Mesha sankranti
festival is very important for Hindus. People bathe in waters and make
pilgrimage to holy places such as Haridwar. In Bihar, the day is celebrated
as Satuan which involves people bathing and then eating sattu and jaggery.
The sun god is also worshipped.
Bikhoti festival
The Bikhoti Festival of Uttrakhand involves people taking a dip in holy
rivers. A popular custom involves beating symbolic stones representing
demons with sticks. The fair is celebrated in various major centres
including Sealdah, Bageshwar and Dwarahat and involves much singing and
dancing, accompanied by local drums and other instruments.
Vishu
Vishu of Kerala is considered a festival of light and fireworks, and
decorating lights and bursting of firecrackers is part of the celebration.
Other elements of Vishu include buying of new clothes for the occasion, and
giving money called Vishukkaineetam, the Vishu feast or Sadya, consisting
of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. Feast items
include Veppampoorasam, Mampazhappulissery, Vishu kanji and Vishu katta’.
People also observe Vishukkani: “the first thing seen on the day of Vishu
after waking up”. The Vishukkani consists of rice, fruits and vegetables,
betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers called ‘konna’, holy
texts and coins.
Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu or Rangali Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year on
April 13th. It is celebrated seven days after Vishuva Sankranti of the
month of Vaisakh or locally ‘Bohag’. The three primary types of Bihu are
Rongali Bihu, Kongali Bihu, and Bhogali Bihu. Each festival historically
recognizes a different agricultural cycle of the paddy crops. During
Rangali Bihu there are 7 pinnacle phases: ‘Chot’, ‘Raati’, ‘Goru’, ‘Manuh’,
‘Kutum’, ‘Mela’ and ‘Chera’.
Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi of the Punjab region heralds the new year where fairs are held and
Bhangra and Giddha folk dances take centre stage.
Pana Sankranti
Pana Sankranti marks the Oriya new year in Odisha. Celebrations include
filling a small pot with pana or a sweet drink of Mishri and water;
consuming flour of horse gram, banana and curd. Danda Nacha or Danda Nata
of Odisha is a tribal dance which is performed to mark the new year.
Pohela Boishakh
The Bengali new year is celebrated as Pohela Boishakh, a day after Mesha
Sankranti known as Boishakh Sankrant.
The festival is celebrated as a national holiday in Bangladesh. Pohela
Boishakh is also known as Nobo Barsho as it is the first day of the Bengali
month of Bongabdo. Fairs are organised to celebrate the event which provide
entertainment including the presentation of folk songs.
3.Dhanu Sankranti
Dhanu Sankranti also known as Dhanur Sankraman is the day when Sun enters
into Dhanu Rashi or the sign of Sagittarius. Dhanu Sankranti marks the
beginning of the ninth month in Hindu Solar Calendar. It marks the arrival
of Dhanu month in Malayalam calendar and Margashirsha and Paush month as
per the calendars followed in north and western parts of India. Dhanur mas
end on the Makar Sankranti day.
On Dhanu Sankranti day Surya or the Sun God is worshiped Special prayers
are offered to Surya and people also take a dip in holy rivers. It is
considered very auspicious to take a Sankraman Snan or the ritual bath in
holy rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra,
and Cauvery.
Dhanu Sankranti is of great significance in Orissa. This festival is one of
the important festivals of Orissa. Special prayers and pujas are offered to
Lord Jagannath on this day and is celebrated with great fervor at the Puri
Jagannath Temple. In Orissa Dhanu Sankranti is celebrated on the first day
of lunar Pousha month. Special delicacy made of sweetened rice flakes
called Dhanu Maun is offered to Lord Jagannath in puja.
The famous Dhanu Yatra is held during this period at Baragarh town of
Koshal region or Western Orissa. Though Dhanu Yatra is performed at various
places in the state the one at Bargarh is the most popular Dhanu Yatra.
It is a street play based on Krishna’s visit to Mathura to witness the
ceremony of ‘Bow’ organised by Kansa as described in the ‘Bhagawat Purana’.
It is celebrated from Pousa Sukla SasthTithi i.e. sixth day of bright
fortnight of Pousa to Pousa Purnima i.e. the full moon day of Pousa and is
carried out for ten to eleven days continuously. Dhanu Yatra is the biggest
open-air theatre in the known history of the world. The whole topography of
Bargarh within a radius of about five to six kilometres turns into one big
theatre during these eleven days.
Kansa had invited Krishna and Balaram on the occasion of Dhanu Yatra with
an intention of killing them during the Yatra. Hence it is known as Dhanu
Yatra. This annual mass festival enacts episodes of the epic Mahabharata
from Lord Krishna’s birth to the killing of the cruel demon king Kansa by
Krishna. During this occasion Bargarh town turns into Mathura. Jira River
is on the border of Bargarh town becomes Jamuna. On the other side of the
river Jira a small village called Ambapali becomes Gopapura. There is a
mango orchard, which serves as Brundavan and a pond is used as Kalindi
Sarovar. Various scenes mentioned the Bhagavata Purana is enacted in
different places of Bargarh town and Ambapali village. Almost all the
people in the town are part of the play.
4.Karka Sankranti
The day when Sun enters the Karka rashi is called Karka Sankranti. This day
starts the southern journey of the Sun God, which is also called the
Dakshinayana. It is believed that Gods go to sleep during phase of six
months. Lord Vishnu is worshipped on this day along with devotees fasting
for blessings. This day is Deva Sayani Ekadashi as well. It is said that it
is extremely fulfilling to donate food and clothes on this day.
Karka Sankranti is the start of the monsoon season that marks the time
agriculture, which is an important source of income in the country.
Dakshinayana ends with makar Sankranti and uttarayan follows. During all
the four months of Dakshinayana, people worship Lord Vishnu. Individuals
who want to do Pitra tarpan for their ancestors wait for Karka Sankranti to
provide the departed souls some peace.
Karka Sankranti Rituals of the Day
Devotees should take holy bath during sunrise to wash away all sins and
start afresh.
On this day, Lord Vishnu is worshiped and Vishnu Sahsra nama stotram is
chanted during the puja. This brings peace and better luck to the devotees.
It is said, to do all kinds of daan on this day including grains, clothes,
and oil especially to Brahmins.
Along with Lord Vishnu, the Sun God is also prayed and offered puja for
health and prosperity on Karka Sankranti.
One should avoid starting anything new or important on this day, as the day
is not very auspicious.
The purpose of puja and fasting on Karka Sankranti is to get relief from
all bad aspects that can affect you or your family. There are many temples
dedicated to Lord Vishnu that are flooded with devotees to offer puja on
this day. In addition, Lord Varaha Swamy is worshipped on Karkataka
Sankranti.
K RAJARAM IRS 14125
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