Makara Sankranti
Sankranti means Transit of Sun from one Rasi to another Rasi. There are Twelve Sankrant’s in a year. Among them, Makara Sankranti is most important and auspicious. Pongal is a Four-day festival and celebrated by Hindus. First day is Bhogi/Pongal, Second day is Makara Sankranti, Third day is Kanuma and last day is Mukkanuma.
Importance of Pongal Festival:
Bhogi/Pongal is last day of Dhanurmasam and first day of Pongal festival which is extremely auspicious as Uttarayan Punyakalam. Bhishma Pithamaha is a great worrier in Mahabharata. He obtained Ischa-Mrityu boon from his father Shantanu. He laid 58 days on arrow bed to depart his body on a chosen day in Uttarayanam period. This year, Bhogi/Pongal is celebrated with Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Before sunrise, people gather around bonfire (open air fire), offer dry cow dung with plum fruit, sugarcane pieces and coin. People enjoy by singing and dancing with traditional folk songs. Drawing Rangoli with different colours on floor are specifically known as Dhanurmasam Rangoli or Sankranti Muggulu or Marghazi Kolam. Rangoli is drawn entire month of Dhanurmasam and decorate Rangoli with Cow dung, flowers, fruits, grass, (Durva) and plum fruits. Bommala Koluvu means arranging God and Goddess idols which depict the story of Hindu Epic. It is compulsory to purchase new idol every year. It is displayed for three days and the visitors are offered fruits and snacks. This custom is more popular in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There is also another custom know as Bhogi Pandulu, a mixture of plum fruits, chocolates, biscuits and coins dropped on head of children for good health.
Children will enjoy to collect these items. At the end of Dhanurmasam, Godha Kalyanam is performed with Sri Ranganatha Swamy at Srirangam Temple, Tamilnadu and also at most of the Vishnu temples. All recipes are prepared with new rice. Both sweet and hot delicious Pongal (Kichidi) is prepared with New Rice and Moongdal as Naivedyam to Lord Vishnu. Mixed vegetable curry and Bajra Roti is prepared. Likewise, traditional recipes are made and distributed among relatives and friends. It is known as Lohri festival in Punjab. It is state festival in Andhra Pradesh. Son-in-law’s are honoured with New clothes, and gifts. In North India, it is known as Bhogali Bhiu and Magha Mela. Pongal is also most important festival in Karnataka, Telangana, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Tamilan’s in Sri Lanka. In Kerala, it is Maghara Valaku. In Assam, it is Bihu, andin Maharashtra, it is Maghi Sankranti.
The Second day is known as Makara Sankranti. It is followed on solar cycle and coincides with Gregorian calendar. Every year, it comes on same date except the leap year. Makara Sankranti means transit of Surya Bhagwan from Dhanurasi (Sagittarius) to Makara Rasi (Capricorn). On this day, Lord Sun is worshipped with recitals of Surya Atharvasirsham and Aditya Hrudayam. In some parts of India, Shattilaprayog is more prevalent which means Seaseme seeds (Til) are used in six forms, i.e., TilSnan, TilDharan, TilDana, TilBakshan, TilHomam and TilTarpan. It means, applying Til oil and Til powder paste to body, adding Til seeds in water for shower, donating (daanam) tilladdu, eating tilladdu, performing TilHoman, offering TilTarpan. Before sunrise, people take shower to follow their customs. It’s believed that eating Seaseme sweet prepared with jaggery would resolve conflict with each other. In Maharashtra and Karnataka, exchange of TilSweet is compulsory along with greeting each other to speak good and be good forever and ever. Children enjoy flying kites and they have competitions among themselves. We can enjoy looking at the Sky filled with multi colour kites. In Telangana and Maharashtra, married women follow Vratam known Bhogi Vida and Sankranti Nomu. They offer new utensils to married women (SuhasiniPooja). Haridasu sankirtan’s about Lord Hari (Vishnu). Bull is decorated and worshipped as a mark of Harvestor. This is last day of Ayyappa Mandala Deeksha and in the evening, Ayyappa Paddi Pooja is also performed to honour Makara Jyothi. People bath in Holy rivers. The largest crowd is gathered at Gangasagar Mela.
The Third day is known as Kanuma. It is also called Kari. Pongal is Harvest Festival and Farmer’s Glory. This day, with due respect Bull and Agriculture, accessories are cleaned and worshipped as Lord. Special dishes like Urad dal Vada and Curd Urad dal Vada are prepared and offered to god and elders. People do not travel on this day.
The Last day is called Mukkanuma. Farmers pray their homage to soil, Air, Water, Sun and fire to protect and improve prosperity. Here ends the Family Time Festival and people fill their native places with joy.
