Spiritual and Religious Significance of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is India�s major festival. This day, sun moves from Tropic of Capricorn(Dakhshinayan) to Tropic of Cancer(Uttarayana). Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different states of nation with different names. In Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal. In Assam it is celebrated as Magh Bihu and Bhogal Bihu. In states of Punjab and Haryana it is celebrated as Lohri festival. In Uttar Pradesh it is celebrated as Khichdi or Donation festival. In Bihar it is known as Til Sankranti or Khichdi festival.
The religious scripture, �Gita� which is known as the voice of Lord Krishna, illustrates that six months of Uttarayan is the day time of deity. And, the 6 months of Dakhshinayan is the night for Gods. It is believed that person who scarifies his body(dies) in Uttarayan get a position in �Krishna Lok�. That person gets liberation, whereas, the one who dies in Dakhshinayan, has to be reborn.
Makara Sankranthi, or Makar Sankrant, marks the commencement of the Sun's (Surya) journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara rasi). In 2012, date of Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra is January 15. It signifies the onset of Uttarayan or Uttarayana Punyakalam and is a major celebration all over India. In Marathi culture, on Makar Sankranti day people exchange grains of multicolored sugar balls and fried til (sesame) mixed with molasses (til gul).
In many regions in Maharashtra people wear black colored dress on Makar Sankranti day. As per Hindu customs and traditions, it is inauspicious to wear black but since it is winter black is worn on the day to keep the body warm. A lot of importance is given to til (sesame seeds) due to the same reason. Sesame seeds (Til) are used to combat the cold in winter, as sesame contains oil which is healthy. This once again proves the wisdom of ancient Hindus who insisted on a particular type of food during a particular season.
So friends, relatives and neighbors exchange Til Gul on the day and say �til gud ghya, god god bola� � let there be only friendship and good thoughts between us.
Another major highlight on the day is kite flying. During the season colorful kites dot the skies in the region.
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