HAPPY MAKARSANKRATI

HAPPY MAKARSANKRATI

 

 

!*!~* Makar Sankranti In Various Parts Of India*~!*!

The great diversity of Indian religious beliefs is projected throughthe various festivals that are celebrated in our country. They arise from the innate desire of man to seek diversion from humdrum activities and they help in symbolising, reflecting and enriching social life in a specific cultural setting.

The festival of Makar Sankrant traditionally coincides with the beginning of the Sun"s northward journey (the UTTARAYAN) when it enters the sign of Makar (the CAPRICORN). It falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Solar Calendar. This day has a very special significance because the day and night on Makar Sankrant are of exactly of equal hours. This day is celebrated as a festival right from the times of the Aryans and is looked upon as the most auspicious day by the Hindus.

The evidence of this festival being lucky is found in our great epic Mahabharat wherein it is told that the great warrior-hero, Bhishma Pitamah  even after being wounded and lying on the bed of arrows, lingered on till Uttarayan set in, to breathe his last. It is believed that the person who dies on this auspicious day of Sankrant escapes the cycle of birth and re-birth and that his soul mingles with the Almighty.

This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country yet the use of til that is sesame is found everywhere. Til or sesame seed contain lot of oil and they therefore have a quality of softness in them. Therefore, firstly the use of til in sweets is good for health and secondly being soft their exchange means exchange of love and tender feelings.

In Maharashtra on the Sankranti day people exchange multi-coloured tilguds made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Til-polis are offered for lunch and these are specialities of Maharashtra. Maharashtrian women are proud of their excellence in preparing these delicacies. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying - "til-gul ghya, god god bola" meaning "accept these tilguls and speak sweet words". The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. This is a special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited for a get-together called "Haldi-Kumkoo" and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day.

 

In Gujarat Sankrant is observed more or less in the same manner as in Maharashtra but with a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to relatives. The elders in the family give gifts to the younger members of the family. The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant scholarships to students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy. This festival thus help the maintenance of social relationships within the family, caste and community.

 

In Punjab where December and January are the coldest months of the year  huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankrant and which is celebrated as "LOHARI". Sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives gather together. Thefollowing day, which is Sankrant is celebrated as MAGHI. The Punjabi"s dance their famous Bhangra dance till they get exhausted. Then they sit down and eat the samptions food that is specially prepared for the occasion.

 

In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh this festival of Sankrant is known by the name "SUKARAT" or "SAKARAT" and is celebrated with great pomp merriment accompanied by lot of sweets.

 

In South Sankrant is known by the name of "PONGAL", which takes its name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk, and this festival has more significance than even Diwali. It is very popular particularly amongst farmers. Rice and pulses cooked together in ghee and milk is offered to the family deity after the ritual worship. In essence in the South this Sankrant is a"Puja" (worship) for the Sun God.

 

 

 

In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant is called "KICHERI".Having bath on this day is regarded as most important. A mass of humanity can be seenbathing in the Sangam at Prayagraj where the rivers Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswathi flow together. At the confluence of these holy rivers every year Kumbh Mela is held for full one month.

 

In Bengal every year a Mela is held at Ganga Sagar where the river Ganga is believed to have dived into the nether region and vivified the ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath. This mela is attended by a large number of pilgrims from East India.

 

The tribals in our country start their New Year from the day of Sankrant by lighting bonfires, dancing and eating their particular dishes sitting together.The Bhuya tribals of Orissa have their Maghyatra in which small home-made articles are put for sale.

There is also a fair in the Western Ghats at a place called Shabari Mala, where the temple of the Community Goddess is decorated with dazzling lights. The Goddess is worshipped by touchables and un-touchables both and the "bhog" to the Goddess is cooked in the touchables and un-touchables both. These tribals participate in the Mela and enjoy all together as if they belong to one single family. May be therefore, the experts pine that this festival of Makar Sankrant comes to us from those olden times when the caste system did not exist in India as it emphasises or communal harmony.

  

 

In Karnataka, the festival is marked by visiting one's friends and relatives to exchange greetings, and by the preparation of a dish called Ellu (made with sesame seeds, coconuts, sugar blocks, etc). A common custom found across Karnataka is the exchange of sugarcane pieces and Ellu with one's neighbors, friends and relatives. In Karnataka, Pongal is known as 'Sankranti', and cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed 'Pongal'- a sweet preparation of rice. Special prayers are offered. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. In the night a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire.

Makar Sankranti is marked by men, women and children wearing colorful clothing; visiting near and dear ones; and exchanging pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram. On this auspicious day, people in Karnataka distribute Yellu and bella (Sesame seeds and Jaggery) and greet with the words " “Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu” (Eat sesame seeds and speak only good). The significance of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings

 

In Andhra Pradesh, Makar Sankranti holds a special importance too. Makar Sankranti here is a 3-day festival. On this day, pulagam, a dish made of rice, green gram and pepper is a unique fare in every Telegu kitchen. In the Telengana districts of Andhra Pradesh, in addition to the harvest festival, Makar Sankranti is also marked by kite flying. 

Thus we see that this festival occupies a significant place in the cultural history of our country and symbolises the victory of ORDER over CHAOS and of Love over Hate.

Hi,Til gud ghya, god god bola

 

Wish you all a very

 

happy and prosperous

 

MAKARSANKRATI 

Happy Lohri

Happy Lohri What is the significance of this  festival  The astronomical significance of the festival is that it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the sun’s movement northward for a six-month period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). While Pongal is predominantly a Tamil festival, similar festivals are also celebrated in several other Indian States under different names. In Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka, the harvest festival Sankranthi is celebrated. In northern India, it is called Makara Sankranti. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is celebrated on the date of the annual kite flying day, Uttarayan. It also coincides with the bonfire and harvest festival in Punjab and Haryana, known as Lohri. Similar harvest festivals in the same time frame are also celebrated by farmers in in Burma, Cambodia, and Korea. Lohri Song for Boys    Sunder mundriye ho! Tera kaun vicaharaa ho! Dullah bhatti walla ho! Dullhe di dhee vyayae ho! Ser shakkar payee ho! Kudi da laal pathaka ho! Kudi da saalu paatta ho! Salu kaun samete! Chache choori kutti! zamidara lutti! Zamindaar sudhaye! bade bhole aaye! Ek bhola reh gaya! Sipahee pakad ke lai gaya! Sipahee ne mari eet! Sanoo de de lohri te teri jeeve jodi! (Cry or howl!) Paheenve ro te phannve pit! " Translation "The ‘ho’s are in chorus Who do you have The  groom with the tandoor The groom's daughter got married He gave 1 kg sugar! The girl is wearing a red suit! But her shawl is torn! Who will stitch her shawl?! The uncle made choori! The landlords ate it! He made the landlords eat a lot! Lots of innocent guys came One innocent boy got  left behind The police arrested him! The policeman hit him with a brick!Cry or howl! Give us lohri ..long live your jodi!" Lohri Song for Girls   "Hulle nee maiyee hulle do beri patte jhulle do jhul payeaan  kahjurran khajurran suttya meva es munde de ghar mangeva es munde di voti nikdi oh! khandi choori, kutdi Kut! Kut! Bharaya thaal woti bave nananaa nal Ninaan te wadi parjaee So kudma de ghar aayee! mein lohri  lain aayee!" Translation "Two berry leaves are  hanging Two date leaves are also hanging The tree shed the  fruit There's an engagement in this boy's house This boy's wife is short She eats and grinds choori(a punjabi dish) She grinds and grinds and fills the plate?.the wife sits with her sisters in law Sister in law and the elder son's wife Are in their in-laws house Happy Lohri to all  Your appreciation  is our inspiration   PLANT TREES TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT.    ramajayam.rediffiland.comramajayamgomati.blogspot.com

The Color Of Friendship

 The Color Of Friendship

The Color Of Friendship
Once upon a time
the colors of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favorite.

GREEN said:
Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope.
I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me,
all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you
will see that I am in the majority." 

BLUE interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea.
It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by
the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and
peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing." 

YELLOW chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into
the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow.
Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world
starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce,
but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry
the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges,
mangoes, and pawpaws. I don't hang around all the time, but
when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking
that no one gives another thought to any of you."

RED could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood!
I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause.
I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty
as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose,
the poinsettia and the poppy."

PURPLE rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:
"I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, cheifs, and bishops have
always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom.
People do not question me! They listen and obey." 

Finally INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others,
but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me,
but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought
and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance
and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting,
each convinced of his or her own superiority.
Their quarreling became louder and louder.
Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled
and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched
down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to
dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a
special purpose, unique and different?
Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across
the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder
that you can all live in peace.
The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so,
whenever a good rain washes the world,
and a Rainbow appears in the sky,
let us remember to appreciate one another.

***********************************

In my search for the Rainbows end, I found,not GOLD, but you my friend.