Happy Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal - Page 5

Finally I got the "like' button to work, Kools.😆

Varsha, a very good post. I few info abt Makar Sankrantis as celebrated in the East.

In Bengal, Poush Sankranti is celebrated as a harvest festival- Poush Parbon. A grand fair called Gangasagar Mela is observed on the bank of river Hooghly. It is considered to be the largest Mela in West Bengal. On this occasion Hindu pilgrims from various places gather at Sagardwip, West Bengal where the holy river Ganga connects with the Bay of Bengal. Ganga originates from Gangotri and flows all through the Himalayas, Haridwar, Benaras, Prayag and finally merges with the Bay of Bengal. It is believed that holy Ganga has made a dive into the 'underworld' region and vivified the ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of king Bhagirath. Devotees come from various parts of the world to take a holy dip in the sacred Ganga River. They offer prayers to Surya (Sun God) and make an urge to wash away their sins on this auspicious occasion and attain Nirvana. After the rituals, the pilgrims visit the Kapilmuni temple situated nearby.

Poush Parbon or Makar Sankranti is celebrated in most of the Bengali homes by preparing a wide variety of sweets and desserts, known as "pithey-paayesh". The freshly harvested paddy along with the date palm syrup (Patali and Khejur Gur) is used in making various traditional Bengali sweets. These wonderful sweets are made of rice flour, coconut, milk, sweet potatoes, palm jaggery (khejurer gur). Friends and families are invited to celebrate this festival by doing Mishti Mukh with these mouth watering and sumptuous dishes. Gifts are exchanged. Children fly kites and wear new clothes and begin their Bengali Year in a marvelous way. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this special occasion.

In Bangladesh, most of the people celebrate this festival by starting their day by eating "Panta-Bhaat" (watered rice) and "Eilish Bhaja" (fried Hilsa fish). Women dress up in Lal paarer sari (white saris with red borders) and men wear Pyjama- Punjabis.

In Darjeeling, the festival is known as Magey Sankranti and people worship lord Shiva in this occasion.

Originally posted by: Dabulls23

Thanks Kools, Rachna and Kalapi for sharing information abt Marathi, Kannadiga and Bengali Sankranti-culture...

One country but so many different culture makes India the best melting pot IMHO..

Kools Bor Nahaan and goodie ceremony sounds like how kids celebrate bdays by breaking Pinata full of candies and goodies..

Thanks for giving us such a detail Sankranti...Brought back so many memories of my childhood in India...

Yes Varsha, just amazing..and truly an example of unity in diversity...

Thanks to all for sharing the info on the festival...
Its good to read about all and feel Nice...


@Kool Di : Too good posts di, really was glad and happy to read about the traditions followed in your place...The way you had explained and written look very nice and wish to see it for real and nearby...

Surely if the PR Cvs could have shown something like that, it would had really been nice and nice to watch and cherish...Surely such ARMAN scenes we could have cherished, instead of some silly prolonging tracks...

Many things they have stretched and showed many functions attended by ARMAN to get insulted but not one such good scene of them as you had mentioned as been shown, even if that as been stretched, the function shown for two days ,we would have enjoyed seeing them happy and for once happy as parents and have a good function overall without any drama...

once the Cvs have chosen a Background for their serial, if they get to know about those traditions and shown it well, then all of us who watch it can also know about it and feel good...