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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.
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Pongal
Maghi
Bihu
ShishurSaenkraat
Makara Sankranthi
SankranthiAll Over
India
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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
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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.
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Sankranthi in Andhra PradeshDay 1 - Bhogi
Day 2 - Makara SankrantiDay 3 - Kanuma
Day 4 - Mukkanuma
Bhogi (Bon)Fire
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Andhra Traditions
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Sankranthi Muggulu
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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.
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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
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Kites and Spools
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Manjha(Glass coated cotton line)
Manjha Maker In Action
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Birdling Technique
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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