|
Send
flowers and gifts - flowerandflora.com
MAKAR SANKRANTI
According
to the lunar calendar, the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic
of Capricorn, or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in
mid-January.
This end of the winter solstice also coincides with the harvest season and
cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth
from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti, and is celebrated as
Makar, or Uttarayana, Sankranti, or Lohri, in the North, and as Pongal in the
South.
The word pongal, in both Telugu and Tamil, signifies the boiling over of the
rice in the cooking pot. Though little is known about the origin of Pongal,
it is probably a Dravidian harvest festival that has survived for
millennia.The Sankranti season ends with Ratha Saptami, the seventh day of
the bright half of Magha, when the sun and his golden chariot are honoured.
Pongal is a three-day festival. On the first day, Bhogi Pongal, celebrations
are confined to the house. Evil spirits are driven out of the home and burned
in bonfires, and the house is whitewashed.
The second day, Surya Pongal, honours the Sun god. Members of the family wear
new clothes and cook - on a new stove and in new pots - a dish with the newly
harvested rice, jaggery and moong dal. Sugarcane stalks characterise this
festival, as do til, and sweets made from jaggery and peanuts.
The third day is Maattu Pongal, honouring cattle. Cows and bullocks are
washed, decorated, and worshipped for their role in ensuring a good harvest.
Punjab celebrates Lohri by feasting on sweets made of jaggery, peanuts and
sesame seeds, and making a symbolic bonfire of the departing winter.
In the days leading up to Lohri, children visit homes of neighbours, sing
traditional Lohri songs, and ask for coins and sweets in return. While being
Indian in spirit, this custom is similar to the tradition of singing
Christmas carols.
In Gujarat and other western states, people observe Uttarayana, when the
winds change, by flying kites. The winter sky bursts into colour with
thousands of paper kites. The festivities conclude with a winter feast.
In Maharashtra, people dress in new clothes and distribute sesame sweets. New
brides are welcomed into the family with sugar ornaments and a
turmeric-and-vermilion ceremony. In rural Maharashtra, feasts of the new
harvest mark the festival.
Assam celebrates the paddy harvest in winter with Magha or Bhogali Bihu.
Pavilions with thatched roofs come up in the villages and there is feasting
in the night. The pavilions are set afire in the morning. The festivities
continue for a week.
At Ganga Sagar, where the Ganga enters the sea, a grand fair is held.
The festival is also called Til Sankranti or Kichri Sankranti, after its main
ingredient or preparation.
In Thanjavur, Madurai, and Thiruchirapalli, in Tamil Nadu, Pongal is marked
by jallikattu, or bull fights. A money bag is tied to the horns of a bull,
and the man who succeeds in tethering the beast to the tree gets the money
and a prize.
Makar Sankranti 2006:
Makar Sankranti will fall on in
2006.
Send
Flowers India and International delivery at the lowest prices -
flowerandflora.com enables you to reach your loved once across the universe
and would leave you glad for having chosen us. We specialize flower gifting
across the universe. All gifts are hand delivered through our network by our
trained and experienced people located at various destinations, we also
assure you of very personalized services to your recipient.
Send Flowers and Gifts, Free hand delivered anywhere in India and abroad by
our network of Online florists - flowerandflora.com. We offer some of the
most exquisite flower arrangements to make your gift a memorable one -
whether it is a a bouquet of 12 red roses, long-stemmed roses with delicate
florals and fresh greens in a classic vase, we will design a special gift for
a special person on a special occasion. Our Internet shop has made ordering
flowers online and flower delivery simple and safe.
We specialize in delivering fresh flowers anywhere in Mumbai through our
network of florists - best quality, same day delivery at a reasonable price.
|
