By Karuna Bhartendra- Traditions
Our traditional India has a huge number of trends that are celebrated with fervor. Makar Sakranti is one of them and is celebrated in the whole country with different names and perspectives.
Yet, there are twelve Sankranti in a year, but the 14th of January is the most noticeable. One of the reasons is that, from that day forward, winter is ready to say bye-bye. From January 14 on, the sun starts moving towards the north, also known as Uttarayana, which is regarded as a period of divinity.
The festival is dedicated to Lord Sun (SURYA). That’s why, in most of regions, there is a trend toward holy bathing on this day. It is also celebrated as a rabi crop harvest festival.By showing significant bonding between father and son, this Sakranti is celebrated all over the country with different names.
In Punjab ‘Maghi’, Kashmir ‘Shishur Sakranti’, Assam ‘Maghi Bihu or Bhogal, Gujrat ‘Vasi Sakranti’, West Bengal ‘Paush Sakranti’, Tamilnadu ‘Thai Pongal’, Kerala ‘Makar Vilakku’ by name, it is celebrated.
Aside from that, the celebration in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana lasts four days, from January 14–17. On the first day, Bhogi Panduga, people burn their old possessions in a bonfire. This bonfire is known as Bhogi. The Pedda Panduga is celebrated with prayers, wearing new clothes, and inviting guests to the house. The third day is known as Knuma. This day is for farmers. They worship their cattle. On the third day, a cockfight and a bullfight are planned.
The fourth day is known as "Mukkanuma," and it is when farmers pray for soil, rain, and fire-like components that are necessary for harvesting. During these days, sugar-coated til (sesame seed) is prepared.
The celebrations are at their peak in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Kite flying is a special attraction at these places on this day. Women from the same communities exchange household items or make-up for other married women. Bathing in the Holy River is also part of this festival. According to the scriptures, an individual gets moksha if he or she takes a holy bath and does charity on this pious day.
It is time to honor the sun by celebrating integration, thoughtfulness, and joyousness. In Maharashtra, people exchange til-gud, as tokens of goodwill. Women perform the ‘Haldi-Kumkum" ceremony.
In Punjab, before Sakranti, ‘LOHRI’ is celebrated, and people dance in a circle around a bonfire. On Maghi, groups of children sing "Dulla Bhatti Ho!" and "Dulle ne viyahi ho!" as they go door to door."Ser shakar pai ho!" says the narrator.
The meaning is that Dulah (the groom) married his daughter and gave her a kilo of sugar as a wedding gift. The farmers start their new financial year on this day.
"Ellu Birodha," as it is known in Karnataka. On this day, women exchange ellu Bella, a regional delicacy made of sugarcane, sesame seeds, jaggery, and coconut.
On this day, a celestial star, Makar Jyothi, appears in the sky over Kerala's Sabarimala temple.The people assume that Lord Ayyappa shows his presence in the form of this lightning star. So, this day is known as Makar Villaku, which means flame on Ponnambalamedu Hill.
In Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP, people relish khichdi, and it is distributed to others too. In Goa, on this day, women pray to Ma Laxmi, observe a 12-day haldi-kumkum festival, and exchange gifts. Five-leaf plates are offered to God (made of rice, chana dal, jaggery, and coconut). One plate is for the deity and his family, and the other two are for the crows. And the last plate is to ward off evil spirits. The festival ends on Ratha Saptami.
While each state has unique traditions on this day, however, the manner in which they are celebrated conveys a message of harmony, integration, and joy.
Karuna Bhartendera is the gold medalist in the field of Clinical psychology and writes for new trends in Mental Health and Behavioral sciences and Culture
First festival of the year being celebrated in different styles in different parts of our country. Worth a read