The Northward journey of Sun!
Sun worship in India!
In India, in most of the states, the harvest festival is celebrated tomorrow which also coincides with the northward journey of the Sun. We are aware that the Sun coarse the northward path from January 14 for six months. Afterwards from the middle of July it starts moving in the southern directions. There are many beliefs in Indian culture. It is the general perception in spirituality that the realized souls end their earthly life when the Sun is on its northward path. Also those who pass away during the day are better disposed than who die in the night. These things can not be proved scientifically but it is the common belief of Indians who trod spiritual path.
We celebrate this day as 'harvest festival'. Yes, the riots bring their products to the home. There is celebrations in every village of India. New earthen pots are purchased and it is decorated with colorful designs. The frontage of each house is cleaned by cow dung, 'rangoli designs with different colors are drawn. Flowers are placed in the design at appropriate places making it beautiful. All take bath and wear new cloths. The entire house is cleaned of all old rags and unwanted things. The house is white washed or color washed according to resources. Rice mixed with jaggery and milk is cooked in the frontage keeping a hearth facing eastward. It is mainly a thanksgiving function to the Sun god. Yes, Sun is the life giver for the entire earth and its occupants. Due to the rays of sun, we get copious rainfall which help the riot in his cultivation. Timely rains enable him to cultivate many varieties of grains, pulses, fruits and vegetables. The bull and cow are the main helpers in the villages. The bull is used in tilling the soil. Cow gives us nourishing milk and other dairy products. We have to thank those animals and cattle which sustain our life. They too get a neat bath. They are decorated with flowers, shells and jingle bells. Turmeric powder is lavishly applied on the face of the cow which is auspicious in India.
In fact, cow worship trace back to ancient vedic culture of rural India. In every house hold the cow is worshiped on daily basis! It gives us milk. The cow dung is used as fuel. The urine of cow contains many medicinal properties. After a cow sheds his life, its skin is used for drum making etc., In every way, the cow helps humanity. We convert the milk into curd and get sweet butter from the curd. The bull assists man in cultivation. It is tied to the carts to carry heavy loads to different places. The harvest is carried to the house by bullock carts. Hence the bull is no way less than the cow. It is used for hard tasks. The seasons arrive due to the earth revolving around the sun. Every thing happens in clockwise precision. Trees grow due to the sun and rain. The leaves need the sun's rays to sustain the tree. Imagine for a moment what will happen to our life on earth if there is no Sun. It is common for the entire globe!
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