Makar Sankranti-Ubiquitous Festival of India

Makar Sankranthi is probably one of the ancient festival of India which is celebrated across the length and breath of the country with great cheer and jest. According to the archeological findings in Latin America, a similar sort of festival was celebrated by our ancestors Mayans.

Unlikely to other festivals, sankranti is not confined to any one specific region or territory.

Owing to the vast geography and diversity of the culture of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons and in innumerable ways depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background, and location.

Sankranti is the Sanskrit word, which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi (zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. There are 12 such sankrantis in all. The Sankranti festival usually refers to Makara Sankaranti or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn).

The festival takes place around 21 days after the tropical winter solstice (between December 20 and 23rd) that marks the start of Uttarayana, which means northward journey of the Sun.

The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. The shortest day of the year is around December 21–22, after which the days begin to get longer. The winter Solstice is on December 21 or December 22, when the tropical sun enters Makara rashi. Therefore the date of Uttarayana is December 21. This was the actual date of Makar Sakranti too. But because of the Earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and the precession of the Equinoxes, Ayanamasha occurs. This has caused Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makar Sankranti was on December 31 and is now on January 14. Five thousand years later, it shall be by the end of February, while in 9000 years it shall come in June.

In 2011, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on the 15th of January, because the sun enters Makar rashi (Capricorn) at 6:44 pm on the 14th, and as per Hindu mythology any event is considered auspicious when the event occurs on the day before the sun rises on that day. So any event beginning with the rise of the sun is believed to be auspicious. Makar Sankranti is therefore on the 15th of January in 2011.

While the traditional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions, Sankranti is a solar event. So while dates of all Hindu festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of Makar Sankranti remains constant over a long term, 14 January. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Magha.

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. Apart from being a harvest festival, Makar Sankranti is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase. It is referred to as the auspicious transition, and marks the end of the inauspicious phase, which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified from this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

This festival also symbolizes the importance of the special relationship between father and son. According to the Purannas, on this day Surya (Sun) visits the house of his son Shani (Saturn), who is the lord of the Makar rashi (Zodiac Capricorn). Though the father and son duo did not get along well, the Surya made it a point to meet his son on this day. He, in fact, comes to his son’s house, for a month.

Whatever the reasons would be, maker sankranti is festival of joy, cheerfulness and brotherhood. By celebrating it we all Indians acknowledge our graditude towards the almighty to honoured us with such an unique festival to celebrate.