MAKAR SANKRANTI AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
India is a land of culture and traditions and we,respect them a lot. There are many festivals in our culture and we celebrate each one of them very enthusiastically. It’s the month of January and everyone is eager to celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti. Each year in January Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan festival is celebrated with great spirit and excitement. Tilgulis shared with friends, family members, and neighbours. Children, as well as grown-ups, enjoy flying kites. The whole atmosphere is filled with joy and festive vibes. But what is the religious, spiritual as well as scientific relevance of the celebrating it?
Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India on January 14 every year which comes in Winter. Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara Rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path hence it is called Makar Sankranti and it is also believed to mark the arrival of the spring season in India. It is a harvest festival. It is celebrated as the sign of the end of the winter and arrival of spring.
Makar Sankranti festival is dedicated to the Sun(Surya) which has great importance in Hindu culture.The festival marks the start of an auspicious period of next six months called “Uttarayan” where the days will become longer and warmer. Makar Sankranti is believed to be a good time for various spiritual practices and events like Pujas and Havans. On this day people take a dip in the waters of river Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery(Kaveri) which is believed to help them to cleanse their sins. People pray to the sun and thank it for success and prosperity. People make sweets(Tilgul) made with sesame seeds(til), jaggery(gud) and share them with everyone. Tilgul symbolizes the togetherness and bond between the people in peace despite differences and diversity. The festival marks the end of sowing the seeds in farming and nearly the end of work in the field, hence, it’s the time for people to enjoy with their family, socializing and celebrating around the bonfires singing folk songs.
The Sun starts its journey in the northern hemisphere. And we all know that sunlight is very beneficial for our health as it is the supply of vitamin D which promotes bone growth and prevent illnesses. The festival falls in winter, hence eating sesame and jaggery is considered beneficial to health as they are warm food.
As our India has been spread over the vast area and consists of a variety of cultures,the different reasons can be found to celebrate the festival on the base of weather, agriculture, civilization and geography. This festival is celebrated all across India with different names and significance. Each state has its own name for Makar Sankranti. it is called SuggiHabba, Makar Sankramana in Karnataka, Thai Pongal, UzhavarThirunal in Tamilnadu, Maghi in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Poush Sankranti in West Bengal.
The sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. The festival signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live and begin to joyously let the light within us shine bright. We should grow in purity, wisdom and knowledge. Sun stands for all ideals; its message is that of light, unity, equality and true selflessness. The festival teaches us a lesson that we should give up our bad habits and grow higher with brightness. we should follow purity and knowledge just like the sun.The main idea behind celebrating this festival is to welcome good days where everyone invites more to life. People wish for luck, good health, prosperity, well being and lots of wealth.During this holy festival, we learn to feel oneness with all creations, we learn to be unselfish and to tread the path of love, purity and forgiveness.
Celebrating festivals in schools have become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief in a child. ASPAM SCOTTISH SCHOOL, one of the Best Schools in Noida, encourage students to embrace other traditions and culture just like the way they do with their own. The festival of Makar Sakranti is celebrated in school with great enthusiasm. The celebration not only helps in building relationship and friendship but also bring happiness and loveamongst the students. They feel like one unit.
