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Makar Sankranti Celebrations
This
festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country.
It is
a four day festival in Andhra Pradesh
Day
1- Bhogi Panduga (Bhogi)
Day 2
- Pedda Panduga,SANKRANTI (Surya)
Day 3
- Kanuma Panduga (Kanuma)
Day 4
- Mukkanuma
The
first day of festival is Bhogi. At dawn people light up a bonfire with
several old articles in their house. In many familities they celebrate Bhogi
pallu, in the evening. These are the regi pallu with petals of flower and
coins of money, will be put on the heads of kids(generally younger than 3
years)(like talambralu) to get rid of Dishti(drushti). The second day is Sankranti,
the big festival, when everyone wears new clothes and pray to their favourite
God by offering them sweets. Kanuma Panduga (Kanuma) is less celebrated
but is an integral part of Sankranti culture. Mukkanuma is famous among
the non-vegetarians of the society. People do not eat any non-vegetarian during
the first three days of the festival and eat it only on the day of Mukkanuma.
Sankranti
usually represents all the four days together. It is celebrated in almost every
village with adventurous games in South India. Whether it is the cock fights in
Andhra, Bull fighting in Tamil Nadu or Elephant Mela in Kerala, there is huge
amount of illegal betting but the so called tradition continues to play a major
role in the festival. Another notable feature of the festival in South India is
the Haridas who moves around begging for rice wishing luck to the household. Rangoli
competitions too are a common sight. The entire month from mid-December to
sankranthi is celebrated with giant rangolis in front of the house which are
drawn only at late night for the entire month. For all other days of the year,
rangoli is typically drawn in mornings only.
It
has a special significance in Orissa. It's a most precious day for Oriya
people. Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of the Sun's journey to the
Northern Hemisphere (Makara raasi), signifying the onset of Uttarayana
Punyakalam. Makar Sankranti is celebrated with gusto in mid-January when the
Sun enters the orbit of capricon. The sun god is worshipped with great fervour
and enthusiasm by one and all. The festival can be best enjoyed at Kalijai
(an island in Chilika), Atri (Khurda), Ghatgaon, Keonjhar, Jashipur,
puri and Jagatsinghpur. A special kind of sweet rice is offered to
the local god and goddess. In Jagannath temple at puri this festival is
observed as Uttarayana Yatra and Uttarayan Vandapana of lord Jagannath. This
special sweet rice (Raw Chawal) is made with sugar, Banana, Cheese, Piled
coconut, Camphor and black pepper and offered to the God. This special rice is
popularly known as "Makara Chaula"
In
Tamil Nadu Sankranti is known by the name of 'Pongal, which takes its
name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk, and this festival has
more significance than even Diwali. It is very popular particularly amongst
farmers. Rice and pulses cooked together in ghee and milk is offered to the
family deity after the ritual worship. In essence in the South this Sankranti
is a 'Puja (worship) for the Sun God.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra
on the Sankranti day people exchange multi-colored tilguds made from til
(sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Til-polis
are offered for lunch. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people
greet each other saying -- 'til-gul ghya, god god bola' meaning 'accept
these tilguls and speak sweet words'. The under-lying 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-Kumkum
and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that
day. Hindus wear ornaments made of 'Halwa' on this day.
In Karnataka,
the festival is marked by visiting one's friends and relatives to exchange
greetings, and by the preparation of a dish called Ellu (made with
sesame seeds, coconuts, sugar blocks, etc). A common custom found across
Karnataka is the exchange of sugarcane pieces and Ellu with one's neighbors,
friends and relatives. In Karnataka, Pongal is known as 'Sankranti', and
cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed 'Pongal'- a sweet preparation
of rice. In the night a bonfire is lit and
the animals are made to jump over the fire.
Makar
Sankranti is
marked by men, women and children wearing colorful clothing; visiting near and
dear ones; and exchanging pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til,
molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram. On this auspicious
day, people in Karnataka distribute Yellu and bella (Sesame seeds and Jaggery)
and greet with the words "Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu"
(Eat sesame seeds and speak only good). The significance of this exchange is
that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings.
In Gujarat
Sankranti is observed more or less in the same manner as in Maharashtra but
with a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to
relatives. The elders in the family give gifts to the younger members of the
family. The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant scholarships
to 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 well-known event.
In
Uttar Pradesh, Sankranti is called 'Khichiri'. Taking a dip in the holy
rivers on this day is regarded as most auspicious. A big one-month long 'Magha-Mela'
fair begins at Prayag (Allahabad) on this occasion. Apart from Triveni, ritual
bathing also takes place at many places like Haridvar and Garh Mukteshwar in
Uttar Pradesh, and Patna in Bihar.
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