8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

1/27

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

2/27

Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into

Makara rashi(Capricorn) on its celestial path.

Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days inIndia.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

3/27

Pongal

Maghi

Bihu

ShishurSaenkraat

Makara Sankranthi

SankranthiAll Over

India

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

4/27

Mythology and cultural significance

Another well-known reference of this day came when the greatgrand-sire of Mahabharata fame, Bhishma, declared his intent to

leave his mortal coil on this day. He had the boon of Ichha-

Mrityu(death at his will) from his father, so he kept lying on the bed

of arrows till this day and then left his mortal coil on Makar

Sankranti day. It is believed that the person, who dies during theperiod of Uttarayana, becomes free from transmigration(rebirth). So

this day was seen as a definite auspicious day to start a journey or

endeavors to the higher realms beyond

It was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing

terror of the Asuras(Demons) by finishing them off and burying theirheads under the Mandara Parvata. So this occasion also

represents the end of 'negativities' and beginning of an era of

righteous living

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

5/27

Traditions* Millions of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (the point where the river Ganges

meets the Bay of Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun God.

* It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Pongal/Sankranthi

* In the western Indian state of Gujarat, the celebrations are even bigger. People offer thousands

of their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor

for reaching to their beloved God.

* At the start of this significant event, there is also worship for the departed ancestors.

* Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness

followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow.

* Laddu oftilmade with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of

Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul'. In Karnataka it is called 'Yellu-Bella'. Food prepared for this festival

is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

6/27

Sankranthi in Andhra PradeshDay 1 - Bhogi

Day 2 - Makara SankrantiDay 3 - Kanuma

Day 4 - Mukkanuma

Bhogi (Bon)Fire

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

7/27

Andhra Traditions

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

8/27

Sankranthi Muggulu

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

9/27

Gujarat

In Gujarat, there is a custom of giving gifts to relatives.

The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant scholarshipsto students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy.

Kite flying has been associated with this festival in a big way.It has become an internationally known event. Brightlycolored kites dot the skies, in celebration of Makar Sankranti.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

10/27

India has a very ancient kite tradition. Most people believe that kites were

first brought into India by the Chinese travellers, Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang

but from there the kites have taken their own evolutionary route in India.

Indian kites are almost exclusively fighter kites. They are made of tissue

paper and bamboo and almost all Indian kites have a very similar shape a

diamond shaped piece of tissue with a central spine and a single bow.

*Indian kite is a superb flying machine, capable of responding to the flyers

lightest touch, extremely maneuverable and perfectly suited to its function.

* The generic name for a kite in India is Patang.

Kite Festival

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

11/27

Kites and Spools

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

12/27

Manjha(Glass coated cotton line)

Manjha Maker In Action

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

13/27

Birdling Technique

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

14/27

Sankranthi Kite flying videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x68I54nn

aJk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGgQFW

72jv8&playnext=1&list=PL89153F9525EC4738&index=2

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

15/27

Tamil Nadu - Pongal

It is a four day festival in Tamil Nadu:

Day 1 - Bhogi Pandigai (Bhogi) Day 2 - Thai Pongal

Day 3 - Maattu Pongal

Day 4 - Kaanum Pongal

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

16/27

The first day of festival is Bhogi

It is celebrated by throwing away anddestroying old clothes and materials,

by setting them on fire, marking the

end of the old and the emergence ofthe new.

Pongal

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

17/27

Thai Pongal

The second day of festival is Thai Pongal orsimply Pongal.

It is the main day of the festival, It is celebrated by

boiling rice with fresh milk and jaggery in new pots,

which are later topped with brown sugar, cashew nutsand raisins early in the morning and allowing it to boil

over the vessel.

Then New boiled rice is offered to the Nature during

sunrise, a gesture which symbolises thanks to the sunand nature for providing prosperity.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

18/27

Pongal

The third day of festival is Maattu Pongal.

It is for offering thanks to cattle, as they help farmer in

different ways for agriculture. On this day the cattle are

decorated with paint, flowers and bells. They are allowed toroam free and fed sweet rice and sugar cane. Some people

decorate the horns with gold or other metallic covers.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

19/27

Kaanum Pongal

The fourth day of the festival is Kaanum

Pongal (the word kaanum means "to view"). During this day people visit their relatives, friends to enjoy the

festive season. This day is a day to thank relatives and friendsfor their support in the harvest.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

20/27

Maharashtra

In Maharashtra on the Makar Sankranti

() day people

exchange multi-colored tilguls made from til

(sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made

from til and jaggery.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

21/27

Maharashtra

The underlying thought in the exchange of

tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and

hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and

remain friends.

This is a special day for the women in

Maharashtra when married women are

invited for a get-together called Haldi-Kunku(turmeric & kumkum)

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

22/27

Punjab

In Punjab huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankrant andwhich is celebrated as "Lohri". Sweets, sugarcane and rice arethrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives

gather together. The following day, which is Sankrant is celebrated as MAGHI.

The Punjabi's dance their famous "Bhangra dance" and enjoya huge festival meal which includes Sarson Ka Saag and MakkiDi Roti.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEMjyDKpMYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QogDy3RnM4

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

23/27

UTTAR PRADESH

In Uttar Pradesh a ritual bath in the river is important on thisday. In fact, bathing is considered mandatory on this day, andaccording to a popular local belief in the hills ofUttarPradesh, one who does not bathe on Makara Sankranti isborn a donkey in his next birth.

A big fair is held at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamunaand the Sarasvati rivers at Triveni in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)on this occasion. Being the month of Magha, this fair is alsocalled Magha Mela. Apart from Triveni, ritual bathing alsotakes place at many places like Haridvar and Garh

Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, and Patna in Bihar. Since it isalso the season to fly kites, the evening sky is awash withcolorful kites of all shapes and sizes. Several kite competitionsare held in various localities.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

24/27

Karnataka

In Karnataka, the festival is marked by visitingone's friends and relatives to exchange

greetings, and by the preparation of a dishcalled Ellu (made with sesame seeds,coconuts, sugar blocks, etc). A commoncustom found across Karnataka is theexchange of sugarcane pieces and Ellu withone's neighbors, friends and relatives.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

25/27

Every Hindu festival has social, medicinal/ health, spiritual

significance tied with it. Although people in different parts of India celebrate this

differently, there are commonalities which make us one- useof rice and moong dal (for making pongal in the South/khichadi elsewhere in india). Foods made with this

combination are nourishing for the body this time of the year.Also symbolism of using til and Jaggary- to maintainenergy/heat in the body through the cold winter months.

Flying kites, taking bath in the river, doing Suryranamaskaaras,boiling milk/ pongal outside in the open all give exposure to

the gentle warm rays of Sun, enriching health.

Getting together with friends and family and distributing til-guleven to strangers promotes social harmony.

Summary

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

26/27

Summary

On the social plane - Sankraanti signifies the warmth of loveand fellow-feeling among the people of a country thatultimately makes them stand up together in adversity or inprosperity.

Sankraanti, signifying light, also gives the message ofintellectual illumination. It is the capacity to discriminatebetween the right and the wrong, the just and the unjust,truth and falsehood, virtue and vice.

Mahabhaarata defines pursuit of truth and real knowledge asthat which leads to the welfare of all living beings

The Gods will help those who display the six attributes ofendeavour, daring, fortitude, wisdom, strength and valour.

8/6/2019 Makar Sankranthi 1

27/27