Culture - No Comments » - Posted on February, 20 at 5:21 pm
This marks the commencement of Uttarayana – the Sun’s journey to the Northern Hemisphere. This half of the year is assumed to be auspicious. Legend states that Bhishma when wounded on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, is said to have waited for the starting of Uttarayana before he died.
On this day the Sun enters the Makara constellation. Sankranti, the deity of the festival symbolises the motion of the Sun and the energy derived from it. Though this festival is national in nature it still has various versions and is celebrated in different ways.
In Maharashtra people distribute Tilgul, a sweetmeat made of sesame and jaggery. The ingredients of the sweet are supposed to be good to sustain the winter cold. The festival is an occasion to strengthen the bonds of love and affection and to mend sour relations. Tilgul represents the sweetness and love shared with friends and relatives.
It is customary to take a dip in an open water body, and offer prayers to the sun. The river Hoogly, in West Bengal, is the hub of activity as thousands of people visit the place for a ceremonial cleansing in the river. This is known as the Gangasagar Mela. Newly-harvested corn is cooked and offered to Surya and other deities in some places.
In Gujarat, brightly coloured kites flutter in the skies, in celebration of the festival. Kite-flying competitions generate a lot of activity and thrill. All the members of the family gather on the terrace of the house and participate in the excitement. Food and drinks are served on the terrace itself, till the end of the activity at dusk. On the same day Pongal is celebrated by Tamil families.