Posted:
January 14th
is an auspiciuos day across South Asia and
marks the beginning of a new harvest season.
A Beautiful,Bright And Delighted Day,
Sun Entered Makar To Intense The Ray.
Crop Harvested To Cheer The Smiles,
Come Together And Enjoy The Life.
Kites Flying High To Touch The Happiness,
Til Mangled With Sweet To Spread Sweetness.
Time To Enjoy The Moment With Full Intensity
~author unknown~
Makar Sankranti is a religious occasion which emphasizes the relationship of the Sun with the life on the Earth. Sun symbolizes spiritual illumination, knowledge, N wisdom. Makar Sankranti means that we are moving toward the light of knowledge 'from the darkness of delusion. It specifies the beginning of a new life with the inner light.
It is an auspicious occasion for Hindu they celebrate this festival by having a holy dip into river Ganges. As a sacred ritual there's a tradition to donate money and Khichadi (raw or cooked mixture of pulse & rice) to the poor.
From north to the South and from east to the west this festival has same significance though there are variations in the name.
Friends, we here by welcome you all to go through some of the ways of
C E L E B R A T I N G
M A K A R S A N K R A N T I
I N I N D I A
Andra Pradesh
As many other states, Andra Pradesh also worships Lord Surya on this day! The festival is celebrated over four days like in Tamil Nadu.
Day One - Bhogi
Day 2 - Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga)
Day 3 - Kanuma
Day 4 - Mukkanuma
Bogi
People lighten up a bonfire with old goods with a notion of curing some diseases. On this day, children are given a "Bhogi Pandhu" bath, which is a combination of gooseberries, sugar cane, rice and other food material. They are also given aarthi to ensure that they are protected from the evil.
Makara Sankranti (Pedda Panduga)
On this day, every member of the household adorn in new cloths and offer prayers. They also put rangoli in the entrance and on top of it lay a Gobbemmalu (cow dung balls with turmeric powder, red vermion power, and grass/ grain). Traditionaly, they boil milk in 'mud' pots and let some spill over. The side from which the milk boils over is an indication of what the year holds for the family.
Furthermore, sacred bulls are decorated beautifully (Gangireddu) and their masters (Haridasulu) make them dance accordingly, as they sing. The Haridasulu receive charities from others.
Kanuma
Kanuma, the third day of festival, marks the day that Hill Govardhana was lifted up by Lord Sri Krishna to protect the people from a cyclone, which was an act of Lord Indra on Gokulam. Upon realization that Lord Sri Krishna was none other than Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, Lord Indra took blessings from him.
Mukkanuma
A day of feast arranged by people to enjoy along with friends and relatvies. They also have cock fighting and bullock cart races take place.
~Credits to Sensational South Cine Forum~
Bengal
In bengal, a very big mela is held every year at the Ganga river.
Gujarat
Makar Sankranti, known as Uttaran in Gujarat, is one of the major festivals of the State. It is supposed to be a 2-day festival, with 14th January being "Uttarayan" and 15th January being vasi-uttarayan (stale uttarayan).
Uttarayan is famous for the kite festival. Kites of different colors and shape the skies during this period. Numerous kite flying competitions are also held during this period.
Grains from the new harvest are used to cook a dish known as 'khichdo.' Another important ritual is the exchanging of mixture of sesame seed and jaggery by friends, relatives and neighbors. The exchange of sesame and jaggery symbolically suggests people to forget and forgive all past ill will and fights and to start afresh on Uttarayan.
Undhiyu (mixed winter vegetable), chikkis [made from til (sesame), peanuts and jaggery], and ladoos made up of wheat flour are the special festival recipes savoured on this day.
Cows, ox and other domesticated animals are given a bath and fed sweets and fresh grass. Special pujas are done for the well being of cattle and plants as man's existence depends on them.
Karnataka
Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu
Eat sesame seeds and speak only good
~Credits: Vegetable Platter Blogspot~
In Karnataka, the auspicious day is celebrated by people visiting their family and friends' houses to exchange wishes and 'Ellu Bella", which is a mixutre of seasme seeds, pieces of sugar cane, coconut, jaggary, peanuts, etc. This custom is followed to ensure that every interaction should be dealt in the most sweetest way possible.
On this day, everyone adorn in new/ colorful cloths and visit their family and friends. They also offer prayers. Cows and bulls are also washed and decorated colorfully and are fed the sweet rice, Pongal.
~Credits to Sensational South Cine Forum~
Maharashtra
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.
On the Makar Sankranti day, people exchange multi-colored halwa (sugar granules coated in sugar syrup) and til-gul ladoos (sweetmeats made from sesame seeds and jaggery).
Gul-polis (flat bread stuffed with jaggery) are offered for lunch. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other with the words, "Til-gul ghya, god god bola" 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' (literally meaning turmeric and vermillion) and given gifts such as utensil, clothes etc. Typically, women wear black sarees or black coloured outfits on this occasion. The significance of wearing black is that Sankranti comes at the peak of the winter season and black colour retains and absorbs heat, helping keep warm.
Each region in Maharashtra has a particular custom associated with Makar Sankranti and its roots can be traced to farming and the harvest season.
Another major highlight on the day is kite flying. During the season colorful kites dot the skies in the region.
Punjab
Makr sakranti is called Maghi in Punjabi and it is celebrated in remembrance of 40 Sikhs who sacrificed their lives for 10th guru of Sikhs near Mukat Sar. These 40 sikhs had first given guruji a letter called bedava saying they were leaving him,once those Sikhs reached their homes a brave sikh lady mai bhago told them off and went with other brave women to fight with guruji against cruel mughal ruling army.
These Sikhs later felt very bad and went to fight for guruji and were all shaheed...only one sikh was little alive,when guruji reached him after winning the battle He requested guruji to tear that letter away and forgive him..there is gurudwara tuti ghandhi sahib at the spot...maghi festival is celebrated with huge enthusiasm in Punjab in remembrance of those brave freedom fighters.
Rajasthan
Celebrated grandly in Rajasthan, people invite their family and friends and arrange special meals and sweets. The skies are filled with kites all over, as a way of celebration.
Tamil Thai Pongal
Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Pondichery, Malaysia, Singapore, etc
Thai Piranthal Vazhi Pirakkum
"the commencement of Thai paves the way for new opportunities"
The month of January, according to tamil Calender,
begins on the day of Thai Pongal!
Thai Pongal
is one of the most important and sacred festivals for the Tamilians
all over the world to thank Surya Bhagvan for the successful
produce, as well as the animals, and welcome the harvest season. Traditionally, the farmers are also appreciated for their hard work in
producing food on this day. Its a four day long celebration, with each
day being significant on its own.
Bogi Pongal
Before the festival begins, each household is cleaned and decorated. On 'Bogi Pongal', which falls a day before Thai Pongal, the old and unwanted goods are 'burned', as a practice of getting rid of the 'bad and evil' from their house.
Surya Pongal
The actual day of 'Thai Pongal'. The day begins very early, as everyone bath and wear new cloths. The ladies adorn each entrance with beautiful Rangoli/ Kolam.
The house front yard is prepared by putting a kolam/ rangoli and setting a makeshift stove, facng the east side where the sun would be rising.
Typically a mud pot, decorated with mango leaves and sugarcane pieces, is placed on top of the makeshift stove. And the fire is set to prepare 'pongal' (sweet rice).
~Credits to Anjkhoney~
Once the water boils rice, milk, jaggery, etc are all added, and is let to 'over flow', which defines 'Pongal'! At this moment, every house hold member celebrates and chant "Pongalo Pongal"! Once the rice is cooked, special prayers are held and the food is offered to the Sun God as well as the farmers.
Mattu Pongal
This day of celebration is dedicated to the animals that help
with the harvesting and provide milk, especially bulls and cows, respectively.
They are decorated with garland and bells, and their horns are painted; and everyone honor them on this day.
Kaanum Pongal
This day of celebration is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and is very
similar to Raksha bandhan, whereby the sisters pray for the well being
of their brothers.
This year we celebrate Pongal on the 14th of January in some parts of the world and on 15th of January in other parts! And during this season ever year, a few new movies are relased and it has become a tradition to rejoice the movies along with the family members.
This year Two Movies have released:
Nanban Movie Review & Vettai
~ Credits to Sensational South Cine Forum ~
Utter Pradesh
Meethe GUD me mil gaya TIL,
Udi PATANG aur khil gaye DIL,
Jeevan me bani rahe SUKH aur SHANTI,
MUBARAK ho apko MAKAR-SANKRANTI
Udi PATANG aur khil gaye DIL,
Jeevan me bani rahe SUKH aur SHANTI,
MUBARAK ho apko MAKAR-SANKRANTI
In utter pardesh, it's called "khichiri". Many consider this the most auspicious day so they take a dip in holy rivers. According to folklore, whoever takes a dip will get a handsome husband [girls] or a beautiful bride [boys].There is also a month long magha-mela in Allahabad.
As in other places, kite flying is also a tradition in Utter Pradesh on this day.
H A P P Y
M A K A R S A N K R A N T I & P O N G A L
W I S H E S T O A L L I F M E M B E R S
Source: wiki and the glory india and others
P.S. The CC team along with Sensational South Forum tried to present the traditions based on their knowledge. Please apologize if any particular custom was missed 😳. Thank you!
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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