Divine dip
- The Statesman
- 15 Jan 2015
Pilgrims pray after the holy dip at Gangasagar in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday. Makar Sankranti will be celebrated today. Dilip Dutta
http://www.thestatesman.net/news/100033-divine-dip.html
Makara Sankranti – Why we celebrate it
Equinoxes and Solstices
As the earth keeps going around the sun, there are certain points in the orbit, when due to the angle of the earth’s tilt, the days and nights either become equal (equinoxes) or day is longest in the Northern hemisphere (summer solstice) or night is longest in Northern hemisphere (winter solstice).
This occurs due to the tilt of the earth’s axis by 23.5 degree.
Seen from the earth, it gives us a perception that the sun is moving northwards and southwards every 6 months between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn which are latitudes at 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator, respectively.
Uttarayanam
The perceived, northern movement of the sun from Tropic of Capricorn to Tropic of Cancer is called Uttarayanam in India.
Uttar meaning North and Ayana, the journey. It is the day when Sun starts its Northward journey. We celebrate this day as Makara Sankranthi.
Makara – Crocodile
Why is this day called Makara Sankranthi?
Makara is the Capricorn zodiac. Sankranthi means change over, transit into. This day marks the Sun moving into Makara Constellation.
The Tropic of Capricorn is also called “Makara Rekha” as this is the lattitude when the Sun transits into the Makara zodiac. Makara is also the name in Samskrt, for a wild sea creature that resembles a Crocodile.
If we look at the shape of our galaxy, the Milky Way, Akasha Ganga along with the Dark Rift, it does seem like a crocodile with its mouth open.
Representation of Dark Rift Resembles a crocodile
As cycles of time go by, life forms and meaning of life also happen to evolve. These goings-on are known as parinama, change, evolution and they continue to happen. New forms and meanings happen to life, be it from the ocean to land or from sky to land, creating a spectrum of life.
Makara Sankranthi marks such a day of change, a change of season to come with a change of lifestyle, a change in mindset and a change in spirit.
Solstice
“Sol” means sun and “Stice” means stationary. Sun seems stationary over the tropic of Capricorn for a couple of days.
Now
The Winter Solstice, the starting day of Uttarayanam today occurs on 21st December. December 22nd is start of Uttarayana Punya Kala Tithi.
Why do we then now celebrate Sankranthi on January 14/15 every year?
Then
In ancient days, the starting day of Uttarayanam, i.e. Winter Solstice fell on January 13 every year.
There is a text called Kaushitaki Brahmana, an accompanying text to the Veda, which has been authored by Rishi Kahola Kaushitaki. This text also mentions thatSankranthi was celebrated around this time.
Precession of Equinox and Solstice
How do we account for this gap?
As the earth keeps revolving around the sun, its own axis of rotation, about which it spins, also undergoes a slow spin like that of a rotating top. This movement is called Precession.
Precession of the Earth about its Axis
Due to this Precession movement, the dates on which the equinoxes and solstices occur, keep shifting by one day every 72 years.
This cycle is called “Precession of Equinox and Solstice”.
Precession of Equinoxes and Solstices – A Depiction
This accounts for the difference of 22 days. Thus, the Uttarayanam Punya Kala Tithi fell on January 14/15 every year then.
Makara Sankranthi is still celebrated on January 14/15 every year.
While the Uttaranyanam has preceded from January 14/15 to December 21 over the last 1500 years, Makara Sankranthi of the Sun moving into constellation, Makara occurs on January 14/15.
The celebration of Makara Sankranti every year brings to our focus, our understanding of the annual turning of the Sun, of the changes taking place in Nature and new hope of life.
D K Hari is the founder of Bharath Gyan. Bharath Gyan is a research organization which endeavors to bring forth the knowledge from ancient times through the ages, with a special focus on Indian heritage.
http://www.niticentral.com/2015/01/15/makara-sankranti-celebrate-296729.html
- By IBTimes Staff Reporter January 14, 2015 01:10 IST
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Multicolored sugar halwa surrounded by til-gul (sesame and jaggery) ladoos. These exchanged and eaten on Makara Sankranti in Maharashtra.Wikimedia Commons/Saloni Desai- Makar Sankranti – also known by the name of Pongal in South India and Maghi in Punjab – is among the most auspicious occasions celebrated by Hindus in all parts of India as well as Hindu communities such as Nepal and others.
- Thousands of people take a dip in the Ganga or pray to the Sun God in what is otherwise regarded as a harvest festival celebrated by zealous Hindus with much cheer, devotion and fanfare.In 2015, Makar Sankranti falls on 15 January although precise astrological calculation indicates that the official time of the celebration also encompasses a few hours of the previous day, 14 January.Said to have a very profound spiritual significance, Sankranti refers to the transitional phase when the Sun passes through the house of Sagittarius to the house of Capricorn. It is a holiday of new commitments and new resolutions.We have rounded up 15 best quotes, sayings, messages and wishes to share on this special Hindu festival as greetings to friends and family members, courtesy websites such as IloveIndia, India.com,Desi Comments and Sahara Samay [ Also visit 365Greetings for Pongal greetings in Tamil language, and the aforementioned sites for other wishes in Hindi language] :
- Salutations and adorations to the Supreme Lord, the primordial power that divided the year into the four seasons. Salutations to Surya, the Sun God, who on this great day of Makar Sankranti embarks on his northward journey (Uttarayana). - Author Unknown
- Seekers of Truth, aspirants on the path of Yoga, devotees of God, lovers of mankind, all these have to pay tribute to the supreme father of energy, vital, which is Surya. 'Suryah pratyaksha devata' (The Sun is the visible God). If you have any visible God, it is the Sun before you. You cannot see God in His pristine excellence, but you can see God through the operation of his powers in nature. So, this particular day, we call Makara Sankranti, is holy. - Swami Krishnananda
- The sun signifies knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makar Sankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to joyously let the light within us shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the sun does from this day. - Swami Sivananda
- The sun, symbolizing wisdom, divine knowledge and spiritual light, which receded from you when you reveled in the darkness of ignorance, delusion and sensuality, now joyously turns on its northward course and moves towards you to shed its light and warmth in greater abundance, and to infuse into you more life and energy. - Author Unknown
- May this festival bring in the Promise of a good harvest,sweetness of Pongal, Brightness of the sun; joy, hope and happiness. Happy Makar Sankranti
- The sun rises with hope, kites fly with bigour, crops are ready to be harvested – all denoting hope, joy and abundance
- The eternal mystery of life is a new start. Wishing you a happy Makar Sankranti.
- Makar Sankranti denotes great planning and happy beginnings; daring and new destinations; success and sweetness. Wish you a great Pongal! And Joyous Makar Sankranti!
- Sending you warm greetings on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and wishing you life's best now and in all the days to come. Happy Makar Sankranti
- Our thoughts hold the power to build, bend or break our circumstances. Best wishes.
- A beautiful, bright and delighted day, sun entered Makar to intense the ray. Crop harvested to cheer the smiles, come together and enjoy the life.
- To sweet friend, I send Happy Makar Sankranti Wishes for you with love. I hope this harvest is the Best in the whole year and you Have lots of grains to earn profits.
- May the Makar Sankranti fire burn all the moments of sadness and bring you warmth of joy and happiness and love...
- A new beginning, a new destination, with happiness or sorrow, with pain or pleasure. Happy Makar Sankranti!
- May your life be blessed with love.
May your life be blessed with lakshmi
May your life be blessed with happiness.
Happy Makar Sankranti!
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/makar-sankranti-2015-best-quotes-15-sayings-messages-wishes-share-hindu-thanksgiving-day-620243
Attired in traditional dress, school girls pose with kites as kite-flying is popular on Lohri in Patiala on Tuesday. (Source: PTI) 
College girls perform 'gidha' (popular folk dance of women in Punjab) around a bonfire as they celebrate Lohri Festival in Patiala on Tuesday. (Source: PTI) 
- College students celebrate Pongal festival during a function in Coimbatore on Saturday. (Source: PTI) - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/photos/picture-gallery-others/sankranti-celebrations-in-full-swing-across-india/5/#sthash.1J5vnVFW.dpuf