MAKAR SANKRANTI-A FESTIVAL IN DEVOTION TO SUN GOD!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

MAKAR SANKRANTI-A FESTIVAL IN DEVOTION TO SUN GOD!

14th,January,2010!

Thursday

5 p.m

Dear Friends,

Good Evening!

Today is an auspicious day-Makar Sankranti/Pongal/Makara Jyothi.Ayyappa Temple festival started.morning I went to have punya darshan of Lord Ayyappa.thetemple is beautifully decorated with strands of marigold flowers.the shining golden and silver papers are brought from Guruvayoor.I could attend Kalashpooja and noon pooja.after the pooja when the shrine was opened devotee's mind calls out,''Swamiye Saranamayyappa!''Lord is beautifully adorned with many floral garlands.each time when I go to temple,I surrender everything at the lotus feet of God.

Makar Sankranti is one of the most important Hindu festivals.the sun enters the zodiac sign of 'Makar'[Capricon].'Sankranti means the movement from one zodiac sign to another.It marks the equinox-the day and night are of equal duration on this day.After today,the days will be longer.It marks the end of winter and heralds the arrival of spring.It is also the harvest festival,which has been celebrated from the times of the Aryans.The Sun God is said to turn his back on winter with his seven horse chariot,marching forward.The Sun is celebrated because it is the symbol of eternal light.

Each festival leaves some message to adopt.Makar Sankranti signifies enlightment and the transition of the self from ignorance to true knowledge.It spreads goodwill,peace and prosperity.IIt is indicative of overcoming hard feelings and promoting stronger bonds of love.

Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India.In Gujarat,the celebrations are marked by kite flying competitions.In Uttar Pradesh the Kumbha Mela is held at  Prayag in Allahabad.People bathe in the Sangam[confluence of the Ganga,Jamuna and Saraswathi] at Prayag.Hordes of people throng to this mela to take a dip in the holy water which is said to cleanse people of their sins.The holy bath is believed to open the gates of heaven for ordinary mortals 

according to Hindu custom.The Hindus offer water to the Sun God in gratitude for a good harvest.

The time to seek blessings from the Sun God is here.Hindus enjoy kite flying festival on Makar Sankranti.the different colours in the sky will certainly make an interesting panorama of kites that come attached with oodles of feelings.The flying of the kite may symbolically mean reaching out to God.Kite flying is indeed a gifted opportunityPongal in Tamil means 'boiling over or spill over'.The boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future wishes for the family.the moment the rice boils over and bubbles out of the festival,the family members shout out 'Ponggalo Pongal'.

pongal is celebrated as harvest festival for three days in Chennai.Boiledrice and milk are offered to the Rain God the first day and to the Sun God the second day.on the third day,family cattle will be given a bath,adorned with colours to honour them for the hard work they put in.

In Punjab,it is celebrated as Lohri.Bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankranti into which sweets,ssugarcane and rice are thrown.

In Maharashtra and Goa,it is celebrated by everyone.it is a specialoccasion for married ladies and they have a get together called 'Haldi Kumkum'.A pooja is offered after which family members exchange a sweet made out of sesame seeds and jaggery as agesture of goodwill.

According to Hindu mythology,it is believed that by  bathing with 'til'[sesame] water,performing 'til homam'.'til tarpan','tilbhakshan' and donating 'til' cleanses past sins.It is customary to eat sweetmeats made out of 'til' and 'gul'[jaggery] along with puffed rice.

Pamba Sadya was held today.Today is the famous Pamba Vilakku.

            

Lakhs of devotees are crowded at Sabarimala to have drshan of Makar Jyothi.It's a miracle that happens every year on this day in between 6-6.30p.m.Makar Jyothi is a celestial star which is worshipped by the pilgrims.the devotees believe that witnessing the light brings them good luck and divine blessings.Makar Jyothi marks the climax of theMakara vilakku season of Sabarimala pilgrimage lasting 41 days.All the eyes will be glued to the channels now to have the punya darshan of Makar Jyothi.

It's Anu signing off..............

May Lord Ayyappa belss one and all.

Wishing you a peaceful and calm night,

Reminding you Anu loves you,dil se,

Sasneham,

Anu