Makar Sankranti

A Prologue to Makar Sankranti

India is a land of festivals. Many festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated on 14^th January every year, is also one of the famous festivals of India that is celebrated with great fervor all over the country. The cultural resonance of India unites with the celebrations, devotion, happiness and zest. People from Punjab celebrate it by the name of Lohri and Maghi, people of Gujarat thank God by a riot of kites in the vast blue. The South India celebrates the festival as Pongal. Precisely, every part of country is frolicking in the festivities at the time of Makar Sankranti.

The Astrological Aspect

Makar means Capricon and Sankranti means to go from one place to another place or to change direction. It also means one's meeting with the other. So, the time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another we call it Sankranti. In other words transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana) is known as Makar Sankranti. Hindus believe in the co-relation of cosmic events with an individual's life and values. The conventional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions, the positions of moon, but Sankranti is a solar phenomena. And so the date of this festival is constant and does not change while other festivals do depend on the positions of moon. The other importance of this day is due to the natural change in the length and warmth of days as winters are to end form then onwards.

The Religious Aspect

The religious aspect of this day is also important. It is said that surya (sun) visits shani (saturn). This day signifies the importance of the special relationship of father and son. The son should carry forward his father's dream. Mots of the auspicious things are done at this time as it is called the day of Gods (uttranyan). Also on this day Lord Vishnu killed the demons and buried their heads under Mandar Parvat which symbolizes end of negativities and herald of a new era. Another reason behind the importance of this day is told in our great epic, Mahabharata, which says that Bhishma Pitamah, who has the boon from his father to keep himself alive as long as he wanted and so he kept himself waiting to finally leave this mortal world on this day.

The Cultural Aspect

Different states of India call the festival with different names. But the quintessence of all remain the same.

Name of the State	Term for Makar Sankranti	Celebrations
Uttar Pardesh, Bihar	Khichri	Taking a dip in the holy rivers
Bengal	Makar Sankranti	A very big Mela is held at Ganga Sagar
Tamil Nadu	Pongal	Surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk
Andhra Pradesh	Pedda Panduga	Celebrated for Four days
Maharashtra	Makar Sankranti	Exchanging of multi-colored tilguds
Gujarat	Makar Sankranti	Kite Flying Day
Punjab	Maghi	Dancing and Feasting
Tribes of Orissa	Sankrant	Beginning of New Year

People wake up early in the morning before sunrise to take bath and worship the sun God on sunrise to pray for living a dynamic, inspired and righteous life. They do tarpan for the great ancestors. Have special sessions of meditations. Ladies make laddoos of til and gur (Jaggery). Give donations to the needy and have Khichri in lunch. Parents visit their son's house and give gifts to their son and daughter in law.

Plan your Makar Sankranti in advance and soak yourself in the festivities on 14^th January.

Swati Saxena

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Lohri

A festival marked with extreme frolic, a festival associated with solar year, a festival to worship fire, a bonfire festival of North India – it is about Lohri one of the most celebrated festivals of India. Celebrated on 13th January every year, Lohri is the coldest day of year. People of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Delhi celebrate the festival with great fervor. The festival heralds the end of chilly winters in North India. Almost every Indian can be seen enjoying on the day when Earth starts moving towards the Sun marking the auspicious period of Uttarayan (North) from Dakshinayana (south). If you are a newly wed couple then your first Lohri is of great significance. Even a new born baby makes the Lohri of a family much prominent as it signifies fertility.

The celebrations of Lohri include praying to the bonfire for abundance and prosperity. People make a small image of the Lohri goddess with gobar (cattle dung), adorn it, kindle a fire beneath it and chant its praises. People could be seen gathering around the bonfire and throwing til, groundnuts, puffed rice and popcorns into the flames of the bonfire, singing and dancing till the fire dies out. They take dying embers of the fire to their homes. Ladies jovially perform Gidda, Kikli. While men could be seen doing Bhangra, jhoomer, luddi, julli and dankara. These traditional songs and dances are the legacy of Punjab's culture.

There are many folklores associated with Origin of Lohri. Among them the most common is Dulla Bhatti who is the leading character of most Lohri songs. While others maintain that the name of the festival originated from Loi, the wife of Saint Kabir. Most of the people of rural Punjab pronounce Lohri as Lohi.

Lohri is not only a cultural gala but a social observance. Being related to harvest season the festival is of immense importance in an agricultural country like India. Everybody observes the festival imparting love and affection to all. The social barriers freeze when people visit homes, distribute sweets, meet and greet each other. The past grievances are forgotten and the gap is thus bridged.

Celebrate this vibrant festival of fertility with full enthusiasm and vitality that signifies peace and harmony.

Swati Saxena

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Christmas

Come December and Christians start preparations for the secular cultural festival of Christmas / Christmastide observed on the 25th of December to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ – the Son of God, the Redeemer of humanity. Cities are illuminated with decorative lights, shops are opened till late nights and are packed with customers asking for decorative plastic or paper items, 'Christmas Trees' whether real or imitation Conifer trees. People embellish the trees with electric lights, and Christmas ornaments. Christmas Carols can be heard hither and tither by groups of people. Christmas Party are planned well in advance. People go to Christmas Parties either in hotels, clubs and resorts or the personal parties thrown by their friends or relatives. Feasting involves boozing, eating, singing, dancing and merry making.

A gala Celebration of Christmas is done to honor the nativity of Jesus Christ. Modern customs have incorporated gift giving, church celebrations, display of various decorations like mistletoe, nativity images, and Santa Claus. Santa Claus, The Christmas Father, is endeared by children especially, as it is believed that He brings gifts for us. According to the Christian Mythology, Santa Claus is originated from the syncretization between St. Nicholas of Myra and elements from Pagan Nordic. Santa Claus has been embodied as personification of Christmas. A long beard old man from North Pole with red cloak and bag of gifts is believed to come on a one horse open sledge through sky at Christmas. Children fancies that during night he comes and bestows the gifts on their beds.

Christmas is a time of frolic and experiencing the charisma of festivities. It is synonymous to enjoying at heart. Christmas activities also include going shopping, hanging out with friends, celebration with family members. A complete break off from the monotonous daily regime. Children are seen engrossed in decorating the Christmas trees with colors, shimmers, ribbons, streamers etc. Christmas stories found in Bible are listened to with much enjoyment.

Gourmets or no gourmets, Christmas celebrations are a treat for the tantalizing taste buds. From Thanksgiving’s turkey to Christmas’ plum pudding, holiday food is relished by all. Christmas cookies, gingerbread, eggnog, cheese log and apple cider are few other savories. These redolent delectable Christmas Foods are prepared with much passion to enjoy the feast together with everyone.

The English Speaking countries observe “Boxing Day”, the day following the Christmas Day. Dating back to 800 years there was custom initiated by the churches of opening the “Alms' Boxes' and give the money to the needy poor in the neighborhood. The tradition still continues by giving gifts to the delivery workers (Postmen) and children delivering newspapers.

What are your plans for Christmas this Year? Do anything and everything to make the festival a carnival of jubilation.

Swati Saxena

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Pushkar Fair

Experience one of the India's most spectacular festival, the annual Pushkar fair in Rajasthan. It is a unique festival that falls in the month of October - November and is the major attraction for the tourists from all over the world. It is the India's largest and most colorful livestock and religious festival. During the Pushkar Camel Festival, thousands of people from all over the country gather at Pushkar during the fair when approximately 50,000 camels are sold, decorated and raced.

Pushkar, the gem of Rajasthan is the also the famous Hindu pilgrimage site. It is the only place with the Brahma temple is located besides the Pushkar Lake. The place is full of natural beauty and the pilgrims from all over the world come to bathe at the Pushkar lake (which is considered sacred by the Hindus).

During the festival, the whole expanse of desert, dotted with thousand of camels and camping families looks amazing beautiful. The major highlight of the festival is the camel racing, followed by the singing and dancing in the amphitheater. Apart from that camels sporting ornamental saddles and headdresses and decorated with ribbons are sold here. Locals are dressed colorfully during the festival. Men are seen wearing crisp white dhotis and colorful turbans. While women adorn themselves with the bright color cholis, ghagra and beautiful silver jewelery.


This seven day festival at Pushkar paint the town bright with various hues of colors. Each and every day of the festival is full of fun and merriment. Apart from the camel races, its other attractions are traditional Rajasthani dances, puppetry shows, camel beauty contest and Laadoo Oonth. Tourists can explore the local markets for camel saddles, textiles, glass bangles, tie and dye, chains, nose rings, necklaces, waistbands, anklets, toe rings, hairpins and the ivory bangles worn from wrist to shoulder.

Tourists get the chance to take the Camel Safari at the Thar Desert. Above all they share the pleasure of staying in the Maharaja's places, which gives them the opportunity to discover more of the fascinating life of Rajasthan.

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Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dhooj is one of the major festival celebrated on the fifth day of Deepwali. It falls on the second day after Deepwali that is on 'Shukla Paksha Dwitiya' in the Hindu month of 'Kartik'. Also known as Bhaiyya Duj, it is celebrated on large scale among the Hindu families in India. The festival is observed as the symbol of love that glorifies the beloved relationship between the brothers and sisters.

Bhai Dhooj is an age old tradition and the history attached to it quite interesting. According to the legends, the Yamraj (Hindu God of Death), visited his sister Yami on this day. Yami welcomed his brother by applying the tilak on his forehead. Yamraj was so pleased that he declared that anyone who receives teeka from his sister on the day of Bhai Dhooj will not receive the fury of hell. He also said the brothers who will have food with their sisters on this day will have a long and fruitful life.

There is another popular story according to which Lord Krishna, after killing the demon Narakasur, visited his sister Subhadra on the day of Bhai Dhooj. She welcomed Lord Krishna warmly and applied tilak on his forehead. From than custom become famous and was followed by other sisters also. Today it is a big festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world. Bhai Dhooj is celebrated as Bhaiyya Duj in north India, Bhav Bij in south India, Bhai Phota in West Bengal and Bhai Tika in Nepal.

On this day sisters apply sacred tikka on their brother's forehead and pray for the long life and well being of their brothers. They perform special pooja ceremonies for their brothers and offers them gola (coconut). In return brothers present gifts to their sisters and swear to protect them whenever needed. This day is very special for the sisters, when they receive utmost attention from their brothers.

In 2008, Bhai Dhooj or the Bhaiyya Duj will be celebrated on Thursday, 30th October.

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Diwali in India

Diwali in 2009 is on Saturday, the 17th of October



India is the land of festivals and Diwali is one of the grandest festival celebrated in India. It is a continuous five day celebration that occurs on the fifteenth day in the Hindu month of Kartika. The word 'Diwali' is a Sanskrit word meaning 'Deepavali' - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. The day is popularly refereed to as the 'Festival of Lights'. It represents the victory of light over the darkness. Even the countries like Gkyena, Thailand, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya celebrate this with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Diwali signifies different things to people all across the world. In northern part, Diwali celebrates the homecoming of Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya after the period of fourteen years. In Gujrat, he festival honors Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. In Nepal, it commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura, while in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali.

Diwali is being celebrated in India since time immemorial. It is the same day when Lord Rama returned back to hid kingdom Ayodhya after winning the fierce battle with 'King of Demons' – Ravana. Lord Rama was asked by his father Dashrath to spend fourteen years of his life in the wild forests. During their stay in the forests, Lanka King, abducted his wife Maa Sita. The festival of Diwali marks his victorious return return of Lord Rama along with Hanuman- the Vanar king who helped him in achieving success.

Diwali celebration takes place with lot of joy and oomph in almost all the regions of the country. People renovate and decorate their houses, shops and work places. Entrances are given traditional look with the with the lovely Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Diyas and candles are kept burning all through the nights.

During the evening Lakshmi Puja is performed by all the family members. People welcome her to their homes and pray for the attainment of health,knowledge, peace and wealth. They burst crackers and invite their near and dear ones to their house holds for partaking in the grand feast and celebrations. It is also marked as the beginning of new Hindu New Year. It is celebrated for the period of five days, Each day having its own significance and value. In the remote areas, cattle's are adorned and worshiped by the farmers as they are the main source of income for them. In the southern parts of the country, cows are offered special veneration as they are considered as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Like all other festivals in India, Diwali has its share of traditional clothing. Markets are flooded with new costumes and large variety of gift items. Women are seen purchasing lot of gold and silver jewelery especially for this occasion. Diwali gifts are exchanged among the relatives and close friends.

Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is the most glamorous festival, celebrated by every one irrespective of any religion or caste.

Diwali in 2009 is on Saturday, the 17th of October

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Onam in Kerala, India

India is basically a agricultural country, and the majority of population depends on agriculture only. As a result most of the festivals are also related to the agricultural activities of the people. These festivals are celebrated with different names in different parts of the country. Onam is regarded as the harvest festival of South India, especially Kerala. It is one of the most important and most popular Hindu festivals.

The festival falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug -Sep) and continues for the period of ten days. It is the time when people thank Goddess Earth and cattle for the wonderful harvest they have reaped. The festival marks the period of peace, happinesses and prosperity. Onam is dear particularly to farming community in the villages.

Onam is mainly celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, a legendary ruler of Kerala, who once ruled the land. According to the legends, Lord Vishnu once decided to test the charitable nature of demon Mahabali, so he descended on the earth in the form of the dwarf Brahmin, called Vamana. He went to King Mahabali palace and requested for the three feet of land to live there. The kind king agreed to offer him the land where ever he wishes. But as the Vamana began to grow, he covered the whole earth by one foot and the heaven by his other foot. Mahabali recognized the presence of the Lord and offered his head as the as the ground for the Vishnu's third step. This won the heart of Lord Vishnu who gave him the Kingdom of Pathala and the boon to visit to visit Kerala – his kingdom once in year to see his people at Onam.

Onam wishes and gifts are exchanged between family and friends and there are celebration within the family. Houses are cleaned and all the maintenance jobs are done before the festival. New clothes are brought for every member of household. Women decorate the central courtyard of their house with beautiful Rangolis, done with the rice flour and bordered with various colors. The grand feast- 'Sandhya' is held in which people thank each other for helping them in having good crops. People make visit to the temple to offer prayers to their Gods and perform traditional dances such as Thiruvathirakali and Thumbi Tullal on the occasion. The ten day Onam celebrations are meant for feasting, snake boat races, traditional dances and merriment to welcome their legendary King. The other highlights of the event are fireworks, raslilas, followed by the possessions of caparisoned elephants. Not to forget to savour at the feast are sumptuous traditional Kerala foods.

Onam 2009 is on September 2, Friday

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