Archives for January 2022

Sankranti – A festival celebrated throughout the Indian subcontinent

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Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan or Maghi or simply Sankranti is celebrated across the Indian sub-continent on the 14th of January every year.

The term Uttarayan refers to the summer Solstice while Dakshinayan refers to the winter Solstice.

While the summer Solstice begins from mid Dec, Sankranti marks the entry of Sun into Capricorn (makar) zodiac, which happens around mid of January every year and hence the term Makar Sankranti.

The concept of Uttarayan and Dakshinayan is well explained in the ancient Vedic texts that give importance to the worship of the Sun God to provide good health, energy and vitality to all living beings on the planet Earth.

This festival also marks the early stages of agricultural in most parts of India.

The festivities associated with Makar Sankranti are known by various names such as Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi in Punjab, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain in Jammu, Sakraat in Haryana, Sukarat in central India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, Dahi Chura in Bihar, Makara Sankranti in Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra & Goa. In West Bengal it is celebrated as Poush Sankranti. In Uttar Pradesh, it is called as Khichidi Sankranti. Uttarakhand celebrates it as ‘Uttrayni’, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrate it as Sankranthi.

In the Indian subcontinent, it is celebrated as Maghe Sankranti in Nepal, Songkran in Thailand, Thingyan in Myanmar, Mohan Songkran in Cambodia.

The reference of Makara Sankranti is also mentioned in the ancient Itihasa or epic, the Mahabharara, as Magha Mela.

The festival is celebrated amongst Hindus by making sticky bound sweets particularly from sesame (til) and a sugar base such as jaggery (gud, gur). This type of sweet is a symbolism for being together in peace and joyfulness, despite the uniqueness and differences between individuals. The sweet is usually called as Til gur. The celebration is associated with kite flying, savouries and praying to fire.

Makara Sankranti is an important pan-Indian solar festival, known by different names though observed on the same date, symbolizing and wishing good health, success and prosperity for the entire world.

Wishing you all a very happy Makara Sankranti.

Image source: internet and further animated.

Samba Dashami, a festival for good health

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Samba Dashami (pronounced as Saambo Doshomi) is a unique festival celebrated mostly in the state of Odisha, India on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha of Pausha Masa (as per Hindu calendar) which is the 10th day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of January.

According to legend, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, was afflicted by leprosy. He did penance and prayed to the Sun God continuously for 12 years. The venue he chose was Konark near the sea beach at Puri, Odisha. This was a unique point where Sun’s rays are believed to have maximum healing powers. He finally got cured by the Sun God. It is believed that he built the vast Konark Sun Temple that is a technical marvel of Ancient India. What remains of the temple today are only the ruins at the entrance.

In remembrance of this event, on this day, mothers pray to Surya Devta for the health of their children.

The women in the family wakeup before sunrise. After bathing, they prepare favorite dishes that are attributed to each family member, especially children and offer it to the Sun God. Some of the unique food items prepared are a set of cake-like dishes called pitha (cake), which includes manda pitha, kakara pitha, poda pitha, arisha pitha. Other interesting food items prepared on this auspicious day in Odisha are biri laddoo, makar chaula, chhenaguda, khiri, rasagulla and chhenagaja and many more delicious dishes.

Wishing you all good health and a happy Samba Dashami.

Image source: free pic from pixabay