The Vedic Festival still celebrated as Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makara Sankranthi in Karnataka, Andhra, Telengana and most of India, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Maghi in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, Bhogali Bihu in Assam, Poush Sangkranti in West Bengal.
It was also celebrated in ancient Rome as Saturnalia. In Rome, Saturnalia was a holiday – people gave gifts; no war could be declared on this day, and masters and slaves swapped their positions. It was also celebrated all over Central Asia, China and in ancient Egypt.
This is the time when the Sun enters the Makara Rasi (Capricornus) marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days with the onset of spring throughout the northern hemisphere.
For the next six months, the days are longer and warmer. Sun begins its northward journey, causing a change of season. The Sun’s journey towards north heralds the advent of spring, ushering in new hope, new opportunities. It is called Uttarayana. In Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah waited for the sun to be in Uttarayan for him to die peacefully.
The Makar Sankranti festival is also known and referred to as the harvest festival because this is the time when harvesting is complete and there are big celebrations. This is the day we acknowledge all those who assisted in making the harvest including farm animals.
Sankranti literally means “movement.” Our life is sustained and nourished by the movement of the planets around the sun. If this movement ceases, we cease to be. But to be conscious of this movement itself, in its entirety, we need to have a certain stillness within. The infinite stillness which sustains everything, the infinite emptiness that is SHIVA.
By expressing our gratitude towards all that sustains life and by aligning ourselves to that which facilitates life itself, we progress to become one with the infinite source. These festivals are a dedication and a reminder to make this happen.
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