People usher in Makara Sankranti

Hyderabad, Jan 15: People across several states in India celebrate Makara Sankranti in different cultural forms. Makara Sankranti marks the transit of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara) in the zodiac path. It is a solar event and one of the few Hindu festivals that fall on the same date every year as per English Calender: 14 January, with some exceptions (it may be celebrated on Jan 13 or 15 in leap year). Makara Sankranti day marks the ascendancy of Sun's journey into the northern hemisphere, the beginning of Uttarayana. It is also known as the harvest festival and the day marks the arrival of spring in India. The festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is believed that any auspicious ritual or deed can be sanctified from this day onwards. Scientifically, Sankranti marks the beginning of warmer days coinciding with the harvest season and the waning of winter. Sankranti is known by different names and popularly celebrated in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as Sankranthi, as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, as Lohri & Maghi in Punjab, and in Nepal as Maghe Sankranti. History As per Puranas, on this day Sun visited the house of Lord Sani, who represents Makar Rashi despite differences between them. The festival also symbolizes the importance of starting things afresh and the end of negative things. It was on this day when Maha Vishnu ended the ever-increasing evil activities of the asuras by killing the and burying their heads under the Mandhar Parvat. On this day, Maharaj Bhagirath brought Ganga down to the earth and liberated his ancestors with the river's sacred water. It is also the day on which Bhishma Pitamaha, who had a boon of Ichcha Mrityu (death on his wish), left his mortal remains. The day leading to Makara Sankranti is called Bhogi, and this is when people discard old and unused things and welcome new things causing change. At pre­dawn, people light a bonfire with logs of wood and other solids at home that are no longer useful. In Hindu families, children are showered with the Indian Jujube fruit called 'Regi Pandlu', which is believed to protect the children from the evil eye. The second day is Makara Sankranti. On this day, people wear new clothes, pray to God, and make offerings of traditional food and sweets to ancestors and neighbours. They also make beautiful drawings and patterns on the ground called 'Rangoli' or 'Muggu', in front of their houses. These drawings are also decorated with flowers, colours and small hand pressed Gobbemmalu (piles of cow dung). For this festival, Hindu families prepare Till or Sesame sweets, Ariselu, Appadalu, Dappalam and make an offering to God. Another striking feature of Sankranti in AP is the 'Haridasu' who goes early in the morning around with a big bowl on his head singing songs of Lord Vishnu (Hari). He does not talk to anyone and just keeps singing around everyone's house. People offer him with food grains or eateries. During Sankranti, in every town and city, people especially children fly kites as its windy in this period. The sky looks as if it is decorated with colourful kites.