Introduction
The term “Sankrānti ( sama + krānti सम् + क्रान्ति) “ in jyotishā (vedānga) means passing over (kranti) of the sun in a natural algorithmic form (sama). As per Vedic calendars, Sankrānti occurs every month (which falls on the last day of every month of the Vedic calendar or Panchanga) as the sun transits from one zodiac to another totalling 12 Sankrānti’s. Makara (मकर) is the zodiac (Capricorn), So Makara Sankrānti = sun entering the Makara in its natural algorithmic form with respect to earth. On this day of Makara Sankrānti the Sun transits from Saggitarius (Dhanu) to the tropic Capricorn (Makara).
Although each Sankrānti has its own reverence with respect to health, agriculture and spiritual focus in Indian culture; the two Sankrāntis; Karka (कर्क) (Cancer) and Makara (Capricon) are considered very important as the mark the solstices or the movement of the sun to “Dakshināyana ( दक्षिणायन south) and Uttarāyana( उत्तरायण north) respectively.
While the traditional Indian Calendar is basically based on lunar positions, but Sankrānti is a solar event, so while dates of all festivals keep changing, the English calendar date of Makara Sankrānti is mostly the same, 14th January (rarely it can shift a day due to some calculations). Makara Sankrānti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Māgha (माघ).
Post Makara Sankrānti, day length in Indian subcontinent and relative areas start getting longer.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
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As per Purāna(पुराण), the Sun visits the house of hid son, lord Shani [saturn] who is considered the master of the zodiac Makara[Capricorn]. It is presented in an interesting tale; the father and son are not on good terms, but the father makes it a point to visit his son once a year. So the Sankrānti denotes family virtues that even though one may not be on good terms with their parents, the child has to carry forward the family as his/her father does.
Makara Sankrānti is also to honour, worship and to pay respect to Saraswati ( सरस्वती, Goddess of Knowledge). At the start of this significant event, there is also worship for the departed ancestors.
Makara Sankrānti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshināyana to Uttarāyana, in the month of Pusha (पौष, in mid-January), it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. Makara Sankrānti apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is denoted 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, Sankrānti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.
Importance of Sesame and Jaggery on Makara Sankrānti
Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul'. In Karnataka it is called 'Yellu-Bella'.
Makara Sankrānti References
Bhagavada Gita (भग्वद गीता)
Gīta illustrates that six months of Uttarāyana is the day time of deity and, the 6 months of Dakhshināyana is the night for Gods. It is believed that a person who sacrifices his body(dies) in Uttarāyana get a position in ‘Krishna Loka’. Uttarāyanaa is considered very auspicious for attaining higher worlds hereafter. That person gets liberation, whereas, the one who dies in Dakhshināyana, has to be reborn. Hence Uttarāyana is also known as Devāyana [Deva=god]
Mahābharata (महाभारत)
The words of Lord Krishna (भग्वान श्री कृष्ण) are further ascertained in Mahābharata. Bhishma was granted a boon of "Iccha Mrutyu" (which means he can choose his time of death). In the war of Mahābharata Bhishma lay in pain on a bed of arrows. Inspite of agony he did not give up his life in Dakshināyana and waited for the sun to enter the zodiac of Capricorn to discard his body.
River Ganga (गंगा)
It is believed that Goddess Ganga [the eternal holy river Ganga] followed Sage Bhagiratha (भगिरथ)from heaven to earth till her course to the ocean in Bengal on the day of Makara Sankrānti.
It was on this day that Bhagiratha finally did tarpan (offering holy water for the soul of the dead) with the Ganges water for his unfortunate ancestors and thereby liberated them from the curse. After visiting the Pātāla (पाताल, the world underground) for the redemption of the curse of Bhagirath’s ancestors, Goddess Ganga finally merged in the Sagar. As of present, a grand GangāSāgara (गंगासागर, the conjunction of Ganga and ocean at the Bay of Bengal) Mela (मेला, fair) is organised every year. Millions of devotees take a dip in the water and do tarpan for their ancestors.
Makara Sankrānti is considered that auspicious time when Lord Vishnu maintained harmony (sura, सुर) by vanquishing the disharmony in form of the asura (असुर) and burying their heads under the Mandāra Parvati. Hence this day indicates to all of us to end all our disharmonies (personal, spiritual, social, moral) or negativities and start afresh with positivity.
Celebrations as per different states in India
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, on the Makara Sankrānti day, people exchange multi-coloured "tilgul (तिलगुळ)" made from tila (तिल, sesame seeds) and sugar, and tila-laddu's (तिल-लड्डु) made from tila and jaggery(गुळ, gula). Gula-polis(jaggery stuffed flatbread) are offered for lunch. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying – ‘til-gul ghya, god god bola (तिलगुळ घ्या गोड गोड बोला)’ meaning ‘accept these tilguls and speak sweet words’. The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends.
This is a special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited for a get-together called ‘Haldi-Kunku’( हल्दि कुंकु, turmeric (Haldi) & vermillion (kumkuma)) and given gifts such as utensil, clothes, etc., which the woman of the house purchases on that day. Typically, women wear black sarees or black colour dress on this occasion. The significance of wearing a black colour dress is Sankrānti comes at the peak of the winter season and black colour wear absorbs more heat and helps keep the body warm.
Rajasthan
This is one of the major festivals in the state of Rajasthan. It is known as "Makara Sakrat" in the Rajasthani language. This day is celebrated with sweets like Ghevar, Til-paati, Gajak, kheer etc.. Although traditionally flying kites is not observed as a part of this festivals, nowadays flying kites can be seen in some cities of Rajasthan. People invite friends and relatives to their home for special festival meals (called as "Sakrat Bhoj").
Uttar Pradesh
In Hindu Mythology this is the first of the big bathing days. Over two million people gather at their respective sacred places for this holy bathing such as Allahabad, Haridwar and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Kite flying is an inevitable part of the festival in Uttar Pradesh, as with many states of India such as Gujarat and Maharashtra. Like other places in India, the references to Til (Sesame seeds) and Gud (Jaggery) are also found in the songs sung on this day
Kumaon (Uttarakhand)
In the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand Makara Sankrānti signals a change of season, the migratory birds start returning to the hills. On Makara Sankrānti people give Khichadi (a mixture of pulses and rice) in charity, take ceremonial dips in holy rivers, participate in the Uttarāyana fairs and celebrate the festival of Ghughutia or Kale Kauva. During the festival of Kale Kauva (literal translation 'black crow') people make sweetmeats out of sweetened flour (flour and gur/ gula) deep fried in ghee, shape them like drums, pomegranates, knives, swords etc. They are strung together and worn as necklace-in the middle of which an orange in fixed. Early in the morning children wear these necklaces and sing "Kale Kauva.." to attract crows and other birds and offer them portions of these necklaces, as a token of welcome for all the migratory birds, who are now coming back after their winter sojourn in the plains.
Punjab
In Punjab where December and January are the coldest months of the year, huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Makara Sankrānti and is celebrated as Lohri. Sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives gather together. The following day, which is Sankrant, is celebrated as Maghi. Bathing in any river in the early hours on Maghi is important. Hindus light lamps with sesame oil as this is supposed to give prosperity and drive away all sins. The Punjabis dance their famous dance known as "Bhangra". Then they sit down and eat the sumptuous food that is specially prepared for the occasion. It is traditional to eat "kheer", rice cooked in milk and sugar.It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Pongal, and in Punjab as Maghi.
Tamil Nadu
Makara Sankrānti is known as Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu. It is a four day festival in Tamil Nadu
Orrisa
In Orrisa People prepare 'Makara chaula(uncooked newly harvested rice, banana, coconut, jaggery, sesame, rasagola, khoi and chhena puddings for offering (naivedya) to gods and goddesses. Makara Mela is observed at Dhabaleswar in Cuttack, Hatakeshwar at Atri in Puri, Makara Muni temple in Balasore and near various deities in each district of Orissa. In the temple of Lord Jagannath this festival is observed as 'Uttarāyanaa Yatra'. In Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar,kalahandi, koraput and Sundargarh where the tribal population is more, the festival is celebrated with great joy.
West Bengal
In West Bengal, Sankrānti, also known as Poush Sankrānti after the Bengali month in which it falls, is celebrated as a harvest festival Poush Parbon. The freshly harvested paddy along with the date palm syrup in the form of Khejurer Gur and Patali is used in the preparation of a variety of traditional Bengali sweets made with rice flour, coconut, milk and 'khejurer gur' (palm jaggery) and known as Pithey . In the Himalayan regions of Darjeeling, the festival is known as Magey Sakrati. It is distinctly associated with the worship of Lord Shiva. Traditionally, people were required to take a bath before sunrise and then commence their pooja. The food that is consumed consists primarily of sweet potatoes and various yams.
Assam
In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu.
Karnataka
This is the Suggi or harvest festival for farmers of Kaveri basin of Karnataka. On this auspicious day, young females (kids & teenagers) wear new clothes to visit near and dear ones with a Sankrānti offering in a plate and exchange the same with other families. This ritual is called "Ellu Birodhu". Here the plate would normally contain "Ellu" (white sesame seeds) mixed with fried groundnuts, neatly cut dry coconut & fine cut "Bella(Jaggery)". In some parts of Karnataka, a newly married woman is required to give away bananas for a period of five years to married women("muthaidhe") from the first year of her marriage, but increase the number of bananas in multiples of five. There is also a tradition of some households giving away red berries "Yalchi Kai" along with the above.
Another important ritual is the display of cows and cattle in colourful costumes in an open field. Cows are decorated for the occasion and taken on a procession. They are also made to cross a pyre. This ritual is common in rural Karnataka and is called "Kichchu Haisodhu."
Kerala
Makara Sankrānti is celebrated in Kerala at Sabarimala where the Makara Jyothi is visible followed by the Makara Vilakku celebrations. The 40 days "anushthana(अनुष्ठान) by the devotees of Ayyappan ends on this day in Sabarimala with a big festival.
Happy Makara Sankrānti।।।
