Cultural Potpourri | Index updated with new posts and photos |

Welcome to another festive celebration! 😃

We celebrate Mid January in India by various names such as Lohri, Uttarayan, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu and others.

Here today, various members have come together to inform us about the legends behind these festivals, what are the rituals associated with them and how they celebrate it in their region.

Let's take this opportunity to learn more about the diverse culture of India. ⭐️

Now this thread is open for comments.

You may appreciate the posts made by the participants and further share any information or anecdotes that come to your mind.

Also, you can share photographs from your celebrations too 😃.

Let us all enjoy the festivities together! 🥳

Index

Post 1 - Pongal - Savera84 Pg 1

Post 2 - Makar Sankranti - Bhavisweet03 Pg 1

Post 3 - Makar Sankranti - PriyaArshiSarun Pg 1

Post 4 - Makar Sankranti - kavya1994 Pg 1

Post 5 - Lohri - bubulswt Pg 2

Post 6 - General Introduction - renee.bee Pg 2

Post 7 - Importance of Khichdi - kavya1994 Pg 5

Post + Photos + Poem - kavya1994 Pg 3

Poem - Til-gud - kavya1994 Pg 6

Photo 1 - Til-gud laddoo - PriyaArshiSarun Pg 1

Photo 2 - Prasad - PriyaArshiSarun Pg 2

HAPPY SANKRANTI TO EVERYONE!!!

Sankranti/Makara Sankranti/Pongal as you call in different regions of India, we call it Sankranti and it has 4 important days.  As you all know, it is a festival of harvest in many regions of India. It is the time of the year, farmers receive the fruits of their hard work.

The whole month (beginning from the middle of December) ladies draw beautiful and intricate Rangoli in their front yards.

Day One - Bhogi: Bhogi, is a day for the family. On this day the entire family wakes up early in the morning, lights up a big Bonfire and burns waste wooden rubbish accumulated throughout the year. In this fire, the dried cow dung balls made for the event, are burnt.  

Members of the family gets ready and wear new clothes

Special meal for the day consists of MoongDal rice and eggplant stew

Distribute sweets and savories around the neighborhood

Day Two - Sankranti: It is mainly to remember and respect elderly people who passed away in the family.  The norm is, to invite someone old (to represent a dead family member), take their blessings, give them fruits, clothes and food.

Cook a festive meal and enjoy.

Day Three Kanuma:  I am not really sure what is done on this day, but, Rangoli fest will be finished on this day by drawing a chariot.

On all the above 3 days, people usually eat vegetarian food only.

Some people indulge in gambling, rooster fights and joy boat rides which usually ends up in tragedies, so, I don't have much interest in them

Day Four - Mukkanuma:  This day is for goddesses (other forms of Kaali)

People who eats non vegetarian food indulges in cooking and eating, after offering to the goddess

I have a story to share:

In one of our trips to India, we have decided to leave on the fourth day from a village.  The driver who was supposed to take us to a train station in the next town, had one too many drinks and fell asleep.  Not many taxis were available and we almost missed our train.  After searching the whole village with a fine tooth comb, we found another driver who safely dropped us at the station right on time.

Cheers......

Hey IPK waasiyo!

Hope you all are doing good.

Here I come up with our famous festival that is called Makar sankranti.

Happy Makar Sankranti to everyone.

Wishing that the rising sun of Makar Sankranti fills your life with bright and happy moments. 

History of Makar Sankranti

Sankranti is deemed a Deity. As per the legend Sankranti killed a devil named Sankarasur. The day next to Makar Sankrant is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On this day, Devi slayed the devil Kinkarasur.The information of Makar Sankranti is available in Panchang. The Panchang is the Hindu Almanac that provides information on the age, form, clothing, direction and movement of Sankranti.

Significance

Every year Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the month of January to mark the winter solstice. It is also one of the largely celebrated Hindu festivals of India and Nepal which is celebrated differently in various cultures but the common practice on the day of Makar Sankranti is flying colourful kites.This festival is dedicated to the Hindu religious sun god Surya. This significance of Surya is traceable to the Vedic texts, particularly the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred hymn of Hinduism found in its scripture named the Rigveda.

Makar Sankranti is a festival which falls on the same day every year as it follows the solar calender. However, once every eighty years, due to revolution, the day is postponed by one day. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the 14th of January every year (sometimes on the 15th) for now. From 2050, it is predicted that the festival will fall on the 15th January (and occasionally on the 16th).

Why is it called Makar Sankranti?

On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters the sun-sign of Capricorn or Makara (the Indian rashi). Therefore the 'Makar' in the name. The word 'Sankranti' signifies the movement of the sun from one zodiac sign to another. Thus, the name of the festival literally means the movement of the sun into Capricorn. 

Day and night are equally long.

As Makar Sankranti is one of the oldest solstice festivals and falls on the equinox, day and night on this day are believed to be equally long. Post the festival, it is officially the beginning of spring or the onset of Indian summer and the days become longer, and nights shorter.

Reason behind flying kites on Makar Sankranti

There is a very interesting reason behind the kite-flying. Kite-flying in olden days was generally done in the early hours of the morning, when the sun's rays were bright but not too harsh. Also, during kite-flying, the human body was exposed to the sun for long hours. The early morning sun is considered beneficial for the skin and body. Since winter is also the time of a lot of infections and sickness, by basking in the sun, Hindus believed that the bad bacteria on their bodies would be cleared to a certain extent. Creating a fun way of sun basking where no one would even realise they were reaping benefits was through kite flying. Cool, right?

Sweets prepared during Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is the festival of til-gul where sesame and jaggery laddoos or chikkis are distributed among all. They are generally accompanied by the saying, "Til-gul ghya ani gud gud bola", which translates to 'eat these sesame seeds and jaggery and speak sweet words'. The festival is one of bonding where every member of society is asked to bury the hatchet with enemies and foes and live in peace. Also, it is a superstition that during the festival, the Sun God forgets his anger on his son Shani and visits him. Thus, by distributing sweets, everyone is asked to spread joy around. Also, since the festival falls in winter, eating of sesame and jaggery is considered beneficial to health as they are warm foods. Thus, it is specifically this sweet that's distributed as it signifies bonding and good health.

Pilgrimages

Makar Sankranti generally marks the beginning of the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh while in South India, in Kerala, one of the most austere and difficult pilgrimages of Shabrimala ends on this auspicious day. Other parts of the country too, celebrate by taking a dip in the holy rivers flowing through states to cleanse themselves of sins. It is also believed that if you die during Makar Sankranti, you are not reborn but go directly to heaven. 

Some activities that we are doing during this festival

Light a fire balloons

Bonfire 

So that's all about Makar sankranti I can say. Enjoy the day with some delicious items of Makar sankranti.

Once again wishing you the warmth of the bonfire and the sweetness of til laddo — a very Happy Makar Sankranti to you and your family.🤗

Hello guys 🤗.

We are celebrate here culture potpourri. As we know it celebrate many different ways according to state and region. It's called by many names like Lohri, Uttarayan, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu.

In our side it's called Makar Sankranti 🪁. It's celebrate on 14 January.

Happy makar sankranti everyone 🤗.

  We not celebrate it grand way but small way. I will tell you guys.

So come here 🥳.

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In Makar Sankranti "Til-Gud laddu (sesame-jaggery balls)" hold important places.

We start preparing to make Til-Gud laddu 1-2 day before of Sankranti and distribute on Sankranti to relatives. It's said that Til-Gud make relationship sweet 😊. 

Time of distribution laddu we said in our marathi language

                                 "Til gud ghya

                          Ani goad goad bola"

(Take that sesame-jaggery and speak sweet sweet).

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On day of makar sankranti in morning we do normal surya pooja at home. 

For pooja we make "Prasad". In prasad we add wadane senga (green peas), Gajar (carrot), ber (Berry), peru (guava), til (sesame) and gud (jaggery).

Time of distribute prasad we again said to everyone " til gud ghya ani goad goad bola".

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Day of Sankranti for lunch we make Khichadi (moong dal rice) and stream the kand ( sweet potato).

After all day we keep flying kites. If cut anyone kite we shout "Oooooo kat".

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Like this we celebrate Makar Sankranti in small way.

Once again happy Makar Sankranti 🪁🪁🪁🪁 🪁🪁

Hello Friends😊

First of all, heartfelt greetings to all of you on Makar Sankranti🥳

☀Why we celebrate Makar Sankranti?☀

Makar Sankranti is a significant day as the Sun enters Makar Rashi (i.e. Capricorn zodiac) as per Vedic astrology. In Hinduism the Sun is worshipped and known as Surya Deva who nourishes all living beings on the Earth. The sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. 

Although all twelve days in Hindu calendar when Surya Deva transits a rashi(zodiac) are considered significant for worshipping Surya Deva, taking religious bath in holy water bodies and performing charity activities but the day when Surya Deva starts moving into Makar Rashi is considered the most auspicious day of the year to worship Lord Surya.

☀Significance☀

Makar Sankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live and begin to joyously let the light within us shine bright. We should grow in purity, wisdom and knowledge just as the sun does from this day. Sun stands for all ideals; its message is that of light, unity, equality and true selflessness. These are the ideals of a karma yogi. Hence, the sun is the biggest karma yogi. It doesn't ask for any rewards for all that it gives us. If it stops giving light, we will be doomed. If we learn this one lesson from the sun, our lives will shine with the divine lustre.

📖 Mythological and Cultural Importance 📖

1. Surya visits his son Shani, on Sankranti day. 

Lord Shani is the ruler of the planet Saturn as per the astrological parlance. He is described as the one who keeps a close watch of the sinful and good deeds performed by people and give the corresponding results in their consecutive births. Shani Dev is black in complexion and is born to Chaya Devi and Lord Surya Dev (Sun god). The story of Shani is quite interesting which also tell us of his incomparable powers just like his father.

Lord Surya married Sandhya and begot three children namely Vaivasvatah Manu, Yam (God of death) and Yamuna. Though Sandhya was a chaste and highly devoted wife to sun god, she could not bear the dazzling brilliance and heat of Surya. Therefore, she wished to undertake a penance to gain the necessary power to withstand the brilliance of sun or to overtake his brilliance with her own brilliance acquired as a result of her penance.

Sandhya created a woman namely Chhaya (the word meaning shadow) from her own shadow and asked her to represent her role as the wife of Sun and take care of the three children too. However, she did not want to reveal any of her plans to Sun God. Doing so,Sadnya handed over her responsibilities to Chaya and went away to her parents’ place. 

She went home and told her father that she could not stand the radiance of God Surya. And therefore, without telling her husband she had come away. Listening to this, her father scolded her and told her that without being called, if the daughter returns home, both her and her father would be cursed. He told her to go back to her home immediately. Then, Saudnya began to worry that if she went back, what would happen to the responsibilities which she had given to Chaya? Also their secret would be exposed.

So,she went to the dense jungles in Uttar Kurukshetra and took repose there. She was fearful of her safety in the jungle because of her youthfulness and beauty, hence changed her form into that of a mare so that no one could recognize her and started her penance. 

Since Chhaya resembled Sandhya very closely, Sun God could not doubt her. Three more children were born to Sun God through Chaya namely Manu, Shani and Tapti. Therefore, Shani is called the son of Surya and the brother of Yama.

Surya Dev with wife Sandhya and Chhaya

As Shani was in the womb of Chaya, she undertook a severe penance under the dazzling sun to propitiate Lord Shiva. As she was totally immersed in prayers and worship of Lord Shiva, the divine vibrations were unconsciously nurturing the baby inside the womb. Therefore, Shani Dev was so much devoted to Lord Shiva too. Also, since Chaya did penance under the blazing sun for so long, Shani was growing black inside the womb. As Shani Dev was delivered, Sun god despised seeing the color of the boy and doubted whether Shani was born to him. This angered Shani Dev who casted an angry look at his father. Due to the power of Shani Dev, Surya too was scorched to black color and movement of his chariot's horses stopped.

Then Surya dev worshipped and called out to Lord Shiva who described him why Shani was so black. Knowing the truth behind the issue, Sun God realised his wrong & apologised. After that Surya dev regained back his glorious looks and power of his chariot's horses.

So, right from his birth, there was a severe misunderstanding between Sun god and Shani, and they didn't go along well. But on Makar Sankranti, leaving all enmity behind, Surya dev visits Lord Shani's 2nd house I.e. Makar(Capricorn). Also Shani dev welcomes him forgetting their bitter past. 

Sun god on his chariot

✒According to another story, once Surya dev witnessed Chhaya doing impartiality with her step son Yama, hence he deserted both his wife Chhaya and his son Shani, which made Shani angered and he cursed his father to suffer from leprosy. Looking at his father's state, Yama dev got saddened and did penance to cure him. After getting cured, Sun God in anger burnt Lord Shani's house, 'Kumbh', which increased Shani dev and his mother's sufferings. When Yam saw his step mother and step brother's condition, he went to his father & requested to end their sufferings. Finally after listening to Yama, Surya dev went to Shani's house, 'Kumbh'. Shani Dev had nothing to welcome him other than Black Til (seaseme seeds) as everything got burnt. So he welcomed him by doing Pooja with that Black Til only, impressed by his act, Sun God blessed him saying that his visit to Shani's second house 'Makar' would filled it with wealth. It is believed that because of Til, Lord Shani got his grandeur back. Hence Til is offered to both Sun God and Lord Shani during Pooja on Makar Sankranti.

2.  Ganga coming down on earth & Liberation of Bhagirath's ancestors 

The great savior of his ancestors, Maharaj Bhagirath, did great Tapasya to bring Gangaji down on the earth for the redemption of 60,000 sons of Maharaj Sagar, who were burnt to ashes at the Kapil Muni Ashram, near the present day Ganga Sagar. It was on this day that Bhagirath finally did tarpan with the Ganges water for his unfortunate ancestors and thereby liberated them from the curse. Thus Makarsankranti marks the start of good luck and fortune for all endevours.

From then on, Ganga Sagar has been a holy pilgrimage in Bengal. A dip in the water at the junction of the river and sea (Prayag) is consider to be auspicious. It is believed on this day, who takes bath in Ganga is freed from all his sins. Although on this day bathing of women has been forbidden.

Big celebrations are made on this day as Ganga sagar mela in west bengal. Sage Kapil ashram attracts lot of visitors on this auspicious day.

Sage Kapil ashram – Gangasagar

3. Importance of Uttarayan

✒In the eight chapter of Gita, the importance of Uttarayan of the Sun is clarified by Shri Krishna. According to it, the person who leaves his body in light does not take birth again while the person who dies in darkness takes birth again.

Here, light and darkness means Uttarayan & Dakshinayan of the Sun respectively.

✒Bhishma knew the importance of Uttarayan and had the boon of Ichchha Mrityu. Hence even after being laid down on bed of arrows he refused to give away his life and waited for this auspicious day to depart from earth.

Bhishma leaving his body in presence of Shri Krishna on the day of Makar Sankranti

✒Importance of Uttarayan is also mentioned in Chandogya Upanishad

4.   Lord Vishnu triumphed over the demons.

The sacred story says that on this day Lord Vishnu beheaded the demons and buried under the Mandara Parvat. Thus, it symbolizes the end of negativity and evil in life and the beginning of an era of righteous living.

Lord Vishnu killing the demons

5. Yashoda Maiyya's Fasting

Yashoda Maa fasted to get Lord Vishnu as her son and Lord Vishnu fulfilled his wish by taking an avatar of Shri Krishna.

6.  Worship of animals during Makar Sankranti. 

One day, Lord Shiva asked his bull Nandi to go to the earth and deliver a message to the disciples. The message was to "have an oil bath everyday and food once a month." However, poor Nandi got confused with the message and told the worshippers that Lord Shiva had asked them to "have an oil bath once a month, and food everyday." When Shiva learnt of this, he was enraged and ordered Nandi to stay back on earth and help the poor farmers to plough the fields, since they would now need to produce more grains in order to be able to eat every day.

Lord Shiva with Nandi Bull

That's all from my side. Enjoy reading😊

Happy Makar sankranti to everyone😊

May the Makar Sankranti end all moments of sadness and bring joy and happiness.

@Raji Lovely Post. You have described about Pongal so nicely. Great work👍🏼 As we are not celebrating it but loved to know something about Pongal. I just heard about it in some TV shows. So how's your Pongal ? 

@Priya Such a wonderful post dear. I was not knowing you are about to post Makar sankranti otherwise I could go with another one. But it's good we came to know about Makar sankranti something new from your side also.🤗

So are you going to celebrate it today ?

@Kavya First of all I am happy to see your post here. And I can say you have described everything about Makar sankranti so deeply. Such a marvelous post. How we Hindus are celebrating that you have mentioned so clearly. Loved your post dear❤️

Post some pictures also those who are going to celebrate makar sankranti.

P.S. I want more pics from Stuti as she is gonna celebrate makar Sankranti for 2 days.😉

Yesterday made Til-Gud laddu 🤤

Prasad (green peas, carrot, guava, Berry, sesame and jaggery)

Hello Hii Every one 

As I see no one made post about Lohri I am making one I will try that  all the information is right.

Lohri is a popular winter folk festival. It is believed by many that the festival marks the passing of the winter solstice. Lohri marks the end of winter, and is a traditional welcome of longer days and the sun's journey to the northern hemisphere by Hindus and Sikhs in the northern region of the India.  It is observed the night before Makar Sankranti, also known as Maghi.

Lohri is an ancient mid winter festival originating in regions near the Himalayan mountains where winter is colder than the rest of the subcontinent. Hindus and Sikhs traditionally lit bonfires in their yards after the weeks of the rabi season cropping work, socialized around the fire, sang and danced together as they marked the end of winter and the onset of longer days.

The ancient significance of the festival is as a winter crop season celebration.

Yet another folklore links Lohri to the tale of Dulla Bhatti. The central theme of many Lohri songs is the legend of Dulla Bhatti who lived in Punjab during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar.He was regarded as a hero in Punjab, for rescuing Hindu girls from being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East. Amongst those he saved were two girls Sundri & Mundri, who gradually became a theme of Punjab's folklore. As a part of Lohri celebrations, children go around homes singing the traditional folk songs of Lohri with "Dulla Bhatti" name included. One person sings, while others end each line with a loud "Ho!" sung in unison. After the song ends, the adult of the home is expected to give snacks and money to the singing troupe of youngsters.

Each year the festival of Lohri is celebrated with the traditional bonfire. Unlike most festivals in India which witness people visiting family and friends and distributing sweets etc., Lohri celebrations are marked by people gathering at a common place and set up a huge bonfire with various kinds of sweet delicacies on display for eating together.

People gather on this day to dance their hearts out and enjoy the warmth of the fire and friendly spirit. No Lohri festival is complete without the energetic moves of Bhangra and Gidda and some people also decorate their homes.