Makara Sankranti Hindu festival is one of the most auspicious festival. what is the history of Makara Sankranti behind its celebration and in different country.
More than 2000 festivals are celebrated every year in India. Behind all these festivals. There is not just tradition or conventional things. All the things related to knowledge, science, nature, health and Ayurveda are hidden behind every festival. Take Makar Sankranti a festival celebrated by Hindus on 14 or 15 January every year. So on this day King Suryadev of the planet enters the zodiac sign of his son Shani Dev. This year, this day is coming on 15 January 2020.
On this day Suryadev becomes Uttarayan from Dakshinayan. And from here onwards Manglik programs start. Which were closed for one month due to mal mass or due to Sagittarius sun. This festival is celebrated all over India in one way or the other, in the month of Paush. when the Sun God enters Capricorn, this festival is celebrated. By the way, Sankranti comes in every sign 12 times a year. But its entry into Capricorn and Cancer sign has special significance. With which, due to the increasing speed, the day becomes larger and the night becomes smaller due to Sun’s entry into Capricorn. Whereas the sun enters the Cancer makes the night bigger and the day shorter.
History of Makar Sankranti.
According to Hindu mythology. on this special day Lord Surya goes to his son. Lord Shani, at that time, Lord Shani is representing Capricorn. To celebrate healthy relationship between father and son. Despite differences, importance was given to Makar Sankranti. It is believed that when a father visits his son on this special day. Their conflicts are resolved. And positivity is shared with happiness and prosperity.
Another story of Makar sankarnti : There is another story of this special day. Which is related to the life of Bhishma Pitamah. Those who received this boon, that they will receive death by their own will. While he was hanging on the arrows, he was waiting for the day of Uttarayan and he closed his eyes on this day and thus he attained salvation on this special day.
The third story associated with this festival says that on this day, Bhishma Pitamah, who was injured in the Mahabharata war, gave up his life for the heavenly movement after the succession of the sun. According to another legend, on this day, in the war between the Devas and the Devas, the Gods ended the demons and destroyed the ominous powers forever. There is another story related to Makar Sankranti, according to which Goddess Yashoda fasted to Lord Krishna to have a son. According to these mythology, this festival is celebrated all over the country to attain the auspiciousness of the Sun God.
Why is the festival of Makar Sankranti celebrated?
Makar Sankranti is very important for farmers. on this special day all farmers harvest their crops. Makar Sankranti is the only festival in India that is celebrated every year on 14 or 15 January. It is the day when the sun rises towards the north. Sun is a symbol of light, strength and knowledge for Hindus. Makar Sankranti festival inspires everyone to move from darkness to light. It is a symbol of starting work in a new way. On the day of Makar Sankranti, from sunrise to sunset, the environment is more conscious, that is, there is divine awareness in the environment, so those who are doing spiritual practice, they can take advantage of this Chaitanya.
Legendary story of the importance of mole on Makar Sankranti?
According to a legend, Shani Dev was not liked by his father Surya Dev. That is why Sun God separated Shani Dev and his mother Chhaya from him. In anger, Shani and his mother cursed the sun god with leprosy.
Seeing the father suffering from leprosy, Yamaraja (who is the son of the second wife of Sun God Noun) did penance. Suryadev was freed from leprosy due to the penance of Yamaraja. But Sun God got angry and burnt Shani Dev and his mother’s house ‘Kumbh’ (the sign of Shani Dev). Both of them suffered a lot.
Yamraj, seeing his step mother and brother Shani in distress, explained to the father Surya for his welfare. According to Yamraj, Sun God reached his house to meet Shani. After setting fire to Kumbh, everything was burnt there. except the black sesame. That is why Shani Dev worshiped his father Surya Dev with black sesame. After this, Sun God gave Shani his second house ‘Makara’.
It is believed that Shani Dev attained his father, home and happiness due to the mole, since then the worship of Sun God on Makar Sankranti is considered to be of great importance.
Makar Sankranti Method of worship?
Those who observe this special day. They worship Makar Sankranti in their homes. Shown below Makar Sankranti Method of worship :
- First of all take out the Punya Kaal Muhurta and the Maha Punya Kaal Muhurta before starting the worship. And clean and cleanse your place of worship. By the way, this worship is done for Lord Surya. Therefore They offer this worship to them.
- After this four black and four white teaspoon Ladoos are placed in a plate. Also keep some money in the plate.
- After this The next material in the plate is a mixture of rice flour and turmeric, betel nut, betel leaves, pure net, flowers and incense sticks.
- After this, the Lord is offered to God by placing black sticks and white sticks Ladoos some money and sweets in a plate for the Lord’s offerings.
- After offering this Prasad to Lord Surya. His Aarti is performed. During the worship. women cover their heads.
- After this, the Surya Mantra Om Haran Hrim Hron Sah Surya Namah(‘ॐ हरं ह्रीं ह्रौं सह सूर्याय नमः) is recited at least 21 or 108 times.
- Some devotees also wear 12 Mukhi Rudraksha during worship on this day, or start wearing it. Ruby Gemstone is also burnt on this day.
Benefits of eating sesame seeds?
Sesame and jaggery laddus are eaten on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. These are not only delicious to eat but they are also rich in many qualities. Sesame contains plenty of calcium, iron, oxalic acid, amino acids, protein, vitamins-B, C and E, whereas jaggery is also found to contain sucrose, glucose and mineral liquid. When the mixture of these two is found, the qualities of this ladoo are increased further.
Makar Sankranti 2020 Date and timing.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on 14 or 15 January. This year Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on Wednesday, 15 January.
The auspicious time for the virtuous period is between 07:14 am and 12:36 pm. Which is a total of 5 hours and 21 minutes.
Sankranti starts on 14 January at 20:05.
Apart from this, the auspicious time is between 07:14 and 09:01. Which is for a total of 1 hour 47 minutes.
Benefits from Makar Sankranti worship?
- This increases consciousness and cosmic intelligence to many levels.
- Therefore by doing this worship. you can get the benefit of higher consciousness.
- Spiritual feeling enhances and purifies the body.
- Successful results are achieved in the work done during this period.
- This is a religious time to spread religion and spirituality in the society.
How to celebrate Makar Sankranti worship ?
- Bathing, charity, and virtue have special significance in the auspicious time of Makarsankranti. On this day people apply jaggery and sesame and bathe in a holy river.
- After this Bathing charity and virtue have special significance in the auspicious time of Makarsankranti. On this day people apply jaggery and sesame and bathe in a holy river.
- After this they are worshiped after offering water to Lord Surya. And they are prayed for their good future.
- After this jaggery, sesame, blankets, fruits etc. are donated. On this day, kites are also flown at many places.
- Along with this dishes made of matchsticks are consumed on this day. On this day people make khichdi and offer it to Lord Suryadev. And khichdi is specially donated. Because of which this festival is also known as Khichdi.
- This day is celebrated in different cities in different ways. On this day crops are also harvested by the farmers.they are worshiped after offering water to Lord Surya. And they are prayed for their good future.
- After this jaggery, sesame, blankets, fruits etc are donated. On this day kites are also flown at many places.
- Along with this, dishes made of matchsticks are consumed on this day. On this day, people make khichdi and offer it to Lord Suryadev, and khichdi is specially donated. Because of which this festival is also known as Khichdi Apart from this. This day is celebrated in different cities in different ways. On this day crops are also harvested by the farmers.
Makar Sankranti festival and culture in India?
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every province in India. But it is celebrated at all different places with different names and traditions.
- Uttar Pradesh: In Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar, it is called the festival of Khichdi. Taking a dip in the holy rivers on this day is considered very auspicious. On this occasion, a big one month Magh Mela starts in Prayag i.e. Allahabad. Apart from Triveni, religious baths are also held in Haridwar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh and Patna in Bihar.
- West Bengal: Every year a very big fair is organized in Ganga Sagar. Where it is believed that the sage of sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagiratha was abandoned and a lower area was dived in the river Ganges. A large number of pilgrims from all over the country participate in this fair.
- Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Pongal festival, which is celebrated to start the harvesting day of farmers.
- Andhra Pradesh: In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Makar is known as Sankramama. Whose 3-day festival is celebrated here as Pongal. This is a very big event for the people of Andhra Pradesh. Telugu calls it ‘Penda Panduga’ which means big festival.
- Gujarat: It is celebrated in the name of Uttarayan in Gujarat and Rajasthan. On this day, a kite flying competition is held in Gujarat, in which all the people there take part in it. It is a huge festival in Gujarat. During this, there is also a 2-day national holiday.
- Bundelkhand: In Bundelkhand especially in Madhya Pradesh, the festival of Makar Sankranti is known as Sakrat. This festival is celebrated with much pomp with sweets in Madhya Pradesh as well as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Sikkim.
- Maharashtra: A dish made of til and jaggery is exchanged in Maharashtra on the day of Sankranti, people speak “til-gul ghaya, gode god bola” to each other while offering sesame seeds. It is a special day for women in Maharashtra. When married women invite guests named “Haldi Kumkum”. And gives them some utensils in the offering.
- Kerala: In Kerala, people perform 40 days rituals on this day as a big festival. Which ends in Sabarimala.
- Odisha: Many tribals in our country begin their new year on the day of Sankranti. Everyone dances and dances together. The Bhuya tribals of Odisha include their Magh Yatra. In which the items made in homes are kept for sale.
- Haryana: It is celebrated in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh by the name of Magahi.
- Punjab: It is celebrated in Punjab under the name Lohri, which holds great importance for all Punjabis, from this day all the farmers start reaping their crops and worshiping them.
- Assam: Magh Bihu is celebrated in the village of Assam.
- Kashmir: Shishur is known by the name of Sankrant in Kashmir.
Names of Makar Sankranti festival abroad?
Apart from India, Makar Sankranti is also popular in other countries, but there it is known by some other name.
- Nepal it is called Maghe Sankranti. In some parts of Nepal, it is also known as Magahi.
- Thailand: It is celebrated in Thailand under the name Songkran.
- Myanmar: You know by the name Thyngan.
- Cambodia: They celebrate under the name Moha Sangrakaran.
- Sri Lanka is known by the name Thirunal.
- Laos know by the name P Ma Lao.
Even in the world Makar Sankranti is celebrated with different names. But the hidden spirit behind it is everyone. That is peace and peace. All celebrate it as a festival of light from darkness.