Bhaktisandesam / Makara Sankraanti

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Hari-Om

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Sankranti: An Ancient Vedic Tradition

Savita Sahgal

 

 

Sankranti is a Hindu festival that is celebrated all over India with

great pomp and splendor. The Sanskrit word Sankranti

means " transition " . The festival which usually falls around January

14th, is celebrated in the month of Magha to mark the sun's passing

through the winter solstice, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic

of Capricorn. Sankranti therefore marks the beginning of the warmer

summer months.

 

Sankranti is an extremely ancient Hindu festival which harks all the

way back to Vedic times. Many ancient vedic books refer to this

astronomical phenomenon in extremely poetic and beautiful language.

In Vedic literature Sankranti is described as the event when Surya

rides his chariot, drawn by seven horses, across the southern skies

to the north. This simple and elegant metaphor alludes to the shift

in position of the Sun's path, his seven horses are none other than

the seven colors of the visible spectrum, and it is on this day that

the Sun crosses over the equatorial zone from the South to the North.

 

A specific historical reference to this phenomenon is also found in

the Mahabharata epic which is about the great war that took place in

3102 BC. It was on this auspicious day of Sankranti that the

grandsire of the Pandavas and Kauravas, Pitamaha Bhishma, chose to

die on his bed of arrows which had been created by Arjuna. The

Pitamaha chose this specific day as it is so auspicious, that people

who die on this day will never have to be reborn again and gain

immediate Self-Realization.

 

Since Sankranti is based on the solar cycles, determining the date

for such an event every year had to have precluded extremely advanced

astronomical and mathematical knowledge. Calculating the sun's path

with such accuracy and precision demands a profound knowledge of

complex mathematics and physical astronomy. Sankranti represents the

unique Hindu perspective of attaching spiritual significance to

phenomenon that are deeply rooted in scientific ideas. It is a

cultural synthesis that has no equal in the world. Even in the rural

areas, where this cosmic phenomenon primarily signified the end of

winter season and the promise of spring, farmers were well aware of

the astronomical science which underlies the occasion.

 

Although in appearance Sankranti is primarily celebrated throughout

India as a harvest festival, the day symbolizes some extremely

profound concepts and ideas. Hindus everywhere consider the festival

as a time to express gratitude to the elements of nature which help

to nurture and enrich human lives. It is also a time of much

merrymaking as this is the period when farmers bring home their

harvest. The feeling of goodwill stems from the timeless Hindu

principle of living in harmony with nature and all living beings. It

is a celebration of the divine Self that is present in all things.

 

In Southern parts of India, the entire month preceding Sankranti is

called Dhanurmasam and is considered an auspicious period of

preparation. People wake up early, take long baths and spend the day

immersed in devotional music. The period takes on the equivalence of

spring cleaning as houses are painted, whitewashed and fixed up.

Farmers clean their warehouses and polish up their equipment.

Beautiful new Tantric patterns in the form of Rangolis made with rice

powder and flowers are created afresh everyday, in front of the

house. These rituals although geared towards outward cleanliness,

actually symbolize preparing the mind to cleanse itself of all the

old attachments which had weighed it down over the past year.

 

There are some universal aspects of Sankranti which are celebrated

similarly all over India. Rituals such as bathing and maintaining

physical cleanliness, the concoction of special dishes based on

harvest grains and sugars, bright and colorful decorations, music and

dance and finally devotional Pujas are given a special emphasis

everywhere that Sankranti is enjoyed. The regional variations of the

festival, however are what makes this festival infinitely varied and

beautiful. Let's explore how Sankranti is celebrated in some of the

major states of India. Despite the wide variety of rituals and

customs, you will notice that there is a unity and homegenity in the

basic concepts which are being celebrated.

 

Gujarat: In Gujarat during Sankranti day, the elders in the family

give special gifts to the younger members of the family. Due to its

auspiciousness, this is also the day that scholarships and

certificates are granted to students for higher studies. New utensils

are purchased and used for the first time. On the morning of

Sankranti special grass and cooked Prasad is brought to the temples

and cows are invited into the temple precincts to enjoy their own

Bhog. The cows are then worshipped and presented with decorations.

Kites are also presented as offerings and can be seen all over the

temples and houses. After this the world renowned kite festival

begins. Thousands of people fly incredibly ornate and colorful kites

in " Pech Ladana " or kite competitions. As evening comes the

excitement is hard to suppress for the winner of the kite

competitions are crowned in their respective neighborhoods. At night

kites or Tukkals are hung from the trees with paper lanterns tied to

their kite-strings.

 

Bengal: In Bengal Sankranti is traditionally called Poush Sankranti

in reference to the month Pushya. Bengali households are filled with

the fragrance of exotic delicacies

like 'Puly', 'Chetai', 'Pakan', 'Kushli', 'Khira', 'Bhapa', 'Patisapta

', 'Mutho' and other varieties to observe the day. Relatives,

especially new brides are invited into the home. The womenfolk wear

new Sarees and the men display new silk Dhotis. Beautiful " Alponas "

or designs in extremely complicated Tantric patterns are drawn on the

courtyards of houses. The Ganga Sagar Mela is a world famous event

which is held on the banks of the Hooghly on this day. People come

from all over India to Bengal for a ceremonial dip into the Ganga on

this auspicious day. Historically this is also the day when Mother

Ganga had flowed down to earth in order to bless and regenerate the

ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of Rishi Bhagirath. The Bengali

celebration of Sankranti is especially renowned however for its

emphasis on devotional music. On the day the Ganga Sagar Mela ends,

the Baul Mela begins. The sonorous strains of Baul songs echo all

across the landscape for three magical nights, as Bengal is enveloped

in the exquisite music that it is renowned for.

 

Orissa: In Orissa, Sankranti is usually referred to as Magha

Sankranti. The day is considered as equivalent to New Year's Day by

many of the tribals. Bonfires are lit, as dancing and feasting

accompany the communal gatherings. The Bhuya tribals of Orissa have

their Maghyatra in which beautiful hand crafted articles made by them

are put up for sale. The festivities take on a special glow in the

temple precincts of Konark, which is an immense structure aligned to

astronomical positions and dedicated to the star of Sankranti, Surya

Deva or the Sun God himself. Auspicious Mantras dedicated to Surya

Deva are chanted throughout the three days. Households make special

rice dishes on this day. Khaja, Kheer and Sweet Dahi are distributed

as Prasad.

 

Assam: In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu.

Incredibly colorful and rich folk dances take place all over the

state as dancers in their traditional Assamese garb sway in melodious

rythm. Dips are taken in the Brahmaputra river and obeisance made to

the Sun god. A region of Assam itself was known as PraagJyotishPur,

meaning the land where the Sun rises. The Kamakhya Temple becomes the

center of activity for the Devi Puja which attracts thousands of

devotees from all over. Feasting, colorful decorations and beautiful

songs fill the entire day of festivity.

 

Andhra Pradesh: In Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti is celebrated over 3 to

4 days. On the first day or Bhogi day as it is called special

attention is showered on children. Children are showered with

Senagalu, (soaked whole gram), sugar cane, coconut bits, and copper

coins to mark auspicious blessings on them. On Sankranti day the

attention shifts to newly married daughters and sons-in-law, and

other family members. A splendid feast is shared by all after

the " Ishta Devata " Poojas. On the third day of Kanuma, the attention

turns to people who have served society during the year. Farmers are

given special baths, cows and bulls are decorated and worshipped on

this day. Servants are given new clothing or other gifts. During the

first three days, young girls invite neighbors to visit their Doll

exhibitions. On the fourth day called Mukkanuma, the women and

children take a pair of the dolls in procession to the river and put

them in a boat to cross the water. This ritual signifies the sun's

journey across the sky. Traditional folk singers such as the Daasarlu

and Haridaasulu sing songs as trained oxen dance to their tunes.

Grand Poojas are performed in temples and devotees are given pongali

(cooked sweet rice) as Prasad.

 

Karnataka: In Karnataka the festival begins at home with Pooja to the

household deity and offering of Prasad which specifically includes

sweet and hot pongal, and Til or sesame seed mixtures. In the

evening, mothers and daughters distribute the Til mixture, sugar

cane, dried coconut halves and Sakkare Acchu (molded sugar candy in

all kinds of shapes). The farming community pays special reverence to

their cattle on this day, as cows and bulls are respectfully washed,

decorated and fed with special sugarcane.

 

Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu this festival is called Pongal in reference

to the sweet Rice dish which typifies the day. The first day is

reserved to express gratitude to Mother Nature in general and the Sun

God in particular for their nurturance of a rich and bountiful

harvest. Chakarai Pongal, a sweet dish is cooked in decorated brand

new earthen pots, using newly harvested rice, lentils and jaggery,

and offered to Surya. The Next day is Mattu (cow) Pongal. Cows and

the cattle are washed, decorated and worshipped. Sisters pray for the

welfare and prosperity of their brothers on this day. Birds are also

fed with colorful rice and Pongal balls. The celebrations ended on

the fourth day, Kanum Pongal, with a special feast. Throughout the

festival special games, competitions, songs and dances make Pongal an

especially joyous occasion for all.

 

Maharashtra: In Maharashtra people exchange multi-colored tilguls

(balls of sesame and jaggery) made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar

and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Delicious Til-polis and

Puran Polis are prepared for the Sankranti feast. The Tilguls are

exchanged as tokens of goodwill with each other. People greet each

other saying - " til-gul ghya, god god bola " meaning " Please accept

these tilguls as offerings of my best wishes and remember to think

and speak sweet words " . Married women are invited for " Haldi-Kumkum "

ceremonies and given special gifts of new utensils.

 

Punjab: In Punjab Sankranti is called " Lohri " . The morning begins

with the children going from door to door singing songs in praise of

Dulha Bhatti, a Punjabi version of Robin Hood who robbed the rich and

helped the poor. The children leave only after they are given either

money or gajak, bhuga, til, moongphali, gur and rewri. In the evening

huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankranti and the collected

sweets, sugarcane, grains and rice fresh from the Harvest are thrown

into the fires. Friends and relatives gather around the bonfires and

eat the roasted delicacies. The next day, Sankranti day is celebrated

as Maghi. Men and women alike join in the celebrations as beautiful,

lively displays of Bhangra and Giddha take place to the beat of the

Dhol, all day long. Special Gajaks are prepared to be eaten on this

day and people adorned in new clothes sing Lohri songs together.

 

UP and Bihar: In the Gangetic states of UP and Bihar, Sankranti is

celebrated first and foremost by having a dip in the cleansing waters

of Mother Ganga. An especially auspicious place for this dip is the

Sangam or Triveni at Prayag where all the three holy rivers Ganga,

Jamuna and Saraswati converge. The Kumbh Mela which goes on for a

month begins on this day. Apart from Prayag, people converge at

places like Haridvar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, and Patna

in Bihar. Special sweets and delicacies made from the grains of the

harvest, such as Khichri, Batashe, Khus Ka Halwa, Rewri and different

types of Kheer are prepared to be eaten by the family and given away

as charity. Distributing food to the poor on this day is considered

especially auspicious. In the evening, kites are flown and special

competitions are held.

 

MP and Rajasthan: In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh the festival of

Sankranti is known by the name " Sukarat " or " Sakarat " and is

celebrated with great pomp and merriment. The day begins with a dip

in rivers or tanks and a special prayer to Surya Deva or the Sun God.

Then a special Puja is performed by the women of the house. New

clothes and gifts are exchanged. In the evening resplendent Melas are

held on the banks of the rivers and near temple tanks. Camels, Cows

and Bulls are gaily decorated and worshipped. Folk singers and

dancers fill the festival with gaiety. An immense variety of grain

and fruit Chaats are specially prepared for this day. Delicacies such

as Moong Dal Khichri, Til Ladoos and Rice Kheer are also made.

 

Although there are incredibly varied ways in which Hindus all over

India celebrate the festival of Sankranti, its essential spiritual

and religious significance has always remained the same. The journey

of the sun symbolizes none other than the journey of our souls across

the ocean of life. Just as the solar transition signifies a landmark

of progress in the sun's cycle, so too is Sankranti meant to

symbolize a day of introspection and rejuvenation of our spirits. Old

fears, anxieties, enmities and grudges are swept out along with all

the old household articles. Our minds are cleansed like the bodies

which come out purified after a dip in the holy waters of the Ganga.

We put on new clothes to remind us of the temporary nature of this

life and the way in which the soul takes on new bodies during every

birth, just like a change of garments. The sun is worshipped on this

day, as it is the eternal symbol of the luminescence and brilliance

of the eternal Self or Brahman. Although the path of the sun changes,

the sun itself is ever constant much like the divine essence which is

within all of us.

 

More than anything else, however it is the kites of Sankranti which

remind us of the Vedic spiritual tradition in which these festive

celebrations and rituals are rooted. The kite represents our

existence, as we sway in the winds of life's illusions, seemingly

drifting in the open skies, lost and distracted by the environment

which is around us. The lesson that we learn from this ritual is that

like the kite which flies without fear in the sky, so too must we go

through our lives, unaffected and detached by the currents that sway

us, secure in the knowledge that the string which tethers us to the

ground is none other the eternal bond between us and our divine Self.

Celebrating Sankranti is a wonderful way to reassert this profound

and timeless Hindu spiritual heritage.

 

Wish you all an extremely happy and auspicious Sankranti.

 

 

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Jai Shree Krishna !