Makara Sankraanti!!
By Mitraa
@Mitraa (3183)
India
January 13, 2009 11:02pm CST
Like every year, Makar Sankranti also comes on 14th January. It is a great festival as well as an auspicious day of Hindus worldwide. The Sun starts moving towards northern hemisphere of the Earth from this day. The rays of Sun remains perpendicular on the tropic of capricorn on this day.
Here in our locality Orissa, people in large numbers worship Lord Shiva in temples with a special item called 'Makara Chaaula', prepared from raw fine rice, molases / sugar, cheese, coconut, banana, milk, sugarcane pieces and black pepper. This represents a regard to the ancient culture of taking raw rice as 'Prasaad' and food!
Many people have different traditions on this day in their localities. Please discuss the tradition of 'Makara Sankranti'in your locality.
4 people like this
9 responses
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
26 Jan 09
It's nice to learn and discover
about other people's traditions and customs. Hindu seem to be a
rather tiny minority in my country and thus I am unaware of the Hindu
traditions. I believe exchanging ideas and beliefs is enriching to all
of us.
(c) ronaldinu 2009 - the more people I meet-the more I love my dog
@nilzerous1 (2434)
• India
14 Jan 09
I just guess is it a height of co-incidence, or something forcefully made so? When our calendar differs so much from standard English calendar - how does this day remain the same every year? Or, am I making another mistake?
@michaeldadona (5684)
• Malaysia
14 Jan 09
Sorry to say, I never heard it before, BUT, your discussion reminds me about Indian community here do talking about pilgrimage in India. One of them is works as a barber, where I regularly cut my hair at his hair dressing saloon. I always look for him rather than my hair cuts by his employees. Once found not avails, I asked his workers for where Kanna gone?, their employee said Kanna went for pilgrimage in India three (3) days ago. Emmmm....now I can understand and relate the situation for your saying.
Anyway, thanks for the good info in your nice discussion, Mitraa.
@sanjana_aslam (4187)
• Malaysia
20 Jan 09
hi mitraa
we celebrate "pongal" being a working wife, i am not able to perform it at the right time, so i only did a "sweet rice" or "sakara pongal" and performed prayers in my house
otherwise we celebrate it like how they celebrate in india .. especially the southern indian style
cheers
@biggerb (2024)
• India
14 Jan 09
We celebrate it as Thai Pongal.It is the harvest festival equivalent to a thanksgiving event.'Pongal' means 'boiling over or spill over '.The act of boiling over of milk is considered to denote future prosperity for the family.This is celebrated at harvest time.Its a celebration of the prosperity associated with the harvest by thanking the rain, sun and the farm animals that have helped in the harvest. We make 'sarkarai pongal' rice, milk, jaggery and coocnut mixed together.We also make other savouries and we wear new clothes and greet each other.
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
14 Jan 09
I have been fascinated by the very interesting practices and philosophies of India. I wonder if there is more to it than the rites and rituals? Cheers!!
@vidhyagowri (1973)
• United States
14 Jan 09
Happy Sankranti to you and your family. We call it Pongal in south India.
