The Writer's Blog

Here's Wikipedia's excerpts on this Indian Festival that marks the sun's transit. Makar Sankranti (Sanskrit: मकर संक्रान्ति, Assamese: মকৰ সংক্রান্তি, Telugu: మకర సంక్రాంతి, Marathi: मकर संक्रान्ति, Kannada: ಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ) or Sankranti or Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India. Makaravillakku Ceremony in Sabarimala (Kerala) Owing to the vast geography and diversity of culture in India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons and in innumerable ways depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location. Sankranti is celebrated since last 6000 years, as archeological findings in Latin America prove that the Mayans celabrated something similar to Sankranthi with Pongal, Pala kayalu, as some kind of spring festival. Sankranti is the Sanskrit word, which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rāshi(z

Lohri coincidentally falls on the same day as that of Pongal in Tamil Nadu and a day before Makara Villakku in Kerala. What is more surprising is that all these festivals have a common path of social enticement. Today's Lohri and this is what the fiirst result on google had to show - Reflections from http://www.lohrifestival.org Lohri, is celebrated every year on 13th of January. It is a festival to worship fire. Lohri Festival is celebrated with great pomp in North India. At this time Earth starts moving towards the sun marking the auspicious period of Uttarayan. First Lohri is very important for the newly wed and the new born babies as it marks fertility. At night, people gather around the bonfire and throw til, puffed rice & popcorns into the flames of the bonfire. Prayers are offered to the bonfire seeking abundance & prosperity. People make merry by dancing & singing traditional folk songs. Though Lohri f

NamaskAra Finally, after 2 days of exile from the world of words, I am back again typing on my keyboard, writing this little article.Did someone ask- Exile ? Well, kinda. Its a part of the Navratri Vrata (Fast) when on the eighth day (DurgAshtami) all books belonging to a student are owed to Goddess Saraswati and placed as a collective Puja entity. Books signify the most important source of knowledge for a student (BrahmachAri), and owing it to the Devi herself is a way to pay tribute to Goddess of VidyA (Knowledge) and thus, seek her blessings.And on the tenth day, that is, on the Day of Vijayadashami, A ritual called VidyArambham is performed. An auspicious ceremony marked with Pooja of Hari, Ganapathy, Goddess Saraswati and the Kuladevata (Lord of the Clan). (My Books placed before images and idols of Our Gods in the morning) VidyArambham is derived from the words VidyA and Aarambham that mean the Commencement of Knowledge. The mantra - Aum HarisrI Ganapathaye namahA avighna