Wish you Happy Uttrayan/Makar Sakranti/Lo

Inactive

Posted: 15 years ago

*!*welcome Friends*!*

Wish you all happy Makar Sakranti. Pongal, Maghi, Uttrayan.

**Now some insight**

Makara Sankranti (It is a sanskrit word) is the harvest festival of India. Sankranti means transmigration of Sun from one Rashi (zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. Hence there are 12 such Sankrantis in all. But the transition of Sun from 'Dhanu' Rasi (Sagittarius) to 'Makara' Rasi (Capricorn) marks the starting of Uttarayana which means northern movement of Sun. Since Uttarayana is considered as auspicious time, Makara Sankranti is celebrated as the beginning of that period It is celebrated by many cultures in different manners.

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus and is celebrated in almost all parts of India in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion. Millions of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (point where the river Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun God (Surya).and in Punjab as Lohri and Maghi.

In the western Indian state of Gujarat, the celebrations are even bigger. People offer thousands of their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor for reaching to their beloved God, the one who represents the best. Makar Sankranthi also happens to be the day on which Bhishma, the grand sire of Pandavas and Kauravas from the epic Mahabharata voluntarily left his mortal coil. This day is also very special for women of southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Unmarried women here pray in hope of getting a good husband or for longevity of their husbands, in case of married women.

Gujaratis are the most prominent in celebrating Uttarayana, by flying kites all over Gujarat, Rajsthan and in Mumbai,

Uttarayana is the six month period between Makar Sankranti around (January 14) and Karka Sankranti around (July 14), when the Sun travels towards north on the celestial sphere. The period from July 14 to January 14 is known is Dakshinayana The starting of Uttarayana is celebrated as Makara Sankranti throughout India, which is declared as National festival by Government of India

Sankranthi is the most important festival of Telugu people, like Deepavali is for Tamil people

It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Pongal,

Many Melas or fairs are held on Makar Sankranti the most famous being the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at one of four holy locations, namely Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nashik. The Magh Mela (or mini-Kumbh Mela held annually at Prayag) and the Gangasagar Mela (held at the head of the Ganges River, where it flows into the Bay of Bengal).

Makara Sankranti is celebrated in Kerala at Sabarimala where the Makara Jyothi is visible followed by the Makara Vilakku celebrations.

Friends have fun celebrating this makar sakaranti 😃but be careful and try to help needy amd less fortunate on this festive day. As this is the day to give.

Edited by ramas - 15 years ago

2

Reply

Quote

Mahi

@-Mystery-

IF-Sizzlerz

+ 6

Posted: 15 years ago

Wishing everyone a very Happy Makar Sakra!!!

-Mahi

Reply

Quote

227273

Inactive

Posted: 15 years ago

my wishes to all on this auspicious event...

In Marathi culture, on Makar Sankranti day people exchange grains of multicolored sugar balls and fried til (sesame) mixed with molasses (til gul). In 2009, date of Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra is January 14.

Makar Sankranti is the season of the first sugarcane harvest in Maharashtra. The sugarcanes are ready to be made into fresh jaggery and this is reflected in the sweets distributed during the period.

In many regions in Maharashtra people wear black colored dress on Makar Sankranti day. As per Hindu customs and traditions, it is inauspicious to wear black but since it is winter black is worn on the day to keep the body warm. A lot of importance is given to til (sesame seeds) due to the same reason. Sesame seeds (Til) are used to combat the cold in winter, as sesame contains oil which is healthy. This once again proves the wisdom of ancient Hindus who insisted on a particular type of food during a particular season.

So friends, relatives and neighbors exchange Til Gul on the day and say 'til gud ghya, god god bola' ' let there be only friendship and good thoughts between us.

Edited by twin_sisters - 15 years ago

Reply

Quote

227273

Inactive

Posted: 15 years ago

Pongal is one of the most important Tamil festivals and is an agrarian festival dedicated to Lord Surya. The festival symbolically represents the pot of plenty and this is depicted by the boiling over of the cooking rice and lentils. Each Pongal is celebrated with the hope that the new harvest will bring fortune and prosperity to all. In 2009, the date of Pongal is January 14. In 2009, Pongal will also be officially celebrated as the Tamil New Year

The main auspicious ceremony on the Pongal day is the cooking of Pongal dish. It is done during the auspicious moment when the Thai month begins. The Pongal dish is prepared in a fresh earthen vessel, which is adorned with flowers, turmeric leaves and roots. It symbolically represents the pot of plenty and festival is has its roots the in the agrarian tradition. Its a four day festival.

Rituals are dedicated to Surya (Sun God). A major highlight is the display of various farm produces especially Sugar Cane. Another highlight is the kolams especially the Pongal Surya Kolam and Ratha Kolam.

Reply

Quote

227273

Inactive

Posted: 15 years ago

In Punja, by the end of the first week of January, small groups of boys ring door bell and start chanting some verses with each line ending in Ho. In villages home, people give them crystal sugar, seasame seeds (til) or gur. In Delhi, they expect money. Turning them back empty-handed is regarded inauspicious. They curse you as they leave with abuse, describing you as a close-fisted miser with ho, ho appended to the curses for good measure.

Lohri marks the end of winter on the last day of Paush, and beginning of Magha (around 12th and 13th January), when the sun changes its course. It is associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities: Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. To the best of my knowledge, it is an exclusively Punjabi festival. Ceremonies that go with it usually comprise making a small image of the Lohri goddess with gobar (cattle dung), decorating it, kindling a fire beneath it and chanting its praises. The final ceremony is to light a large bonfire at sunset, toss seasame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries in it, sit round it, and sing and dance till the fire dies out. People take dying embers of the fire to their homes. In Punjabi village homes, fire is kept going round the clock by use of cow-dung cakes.

Reply

Quote