Makara Sankranti - Swamini Saradapriyananda

India is the land of festivals. Her festivals are not merely occasions to rejoice and make merry but occasions to revel in the glories of the Lord and evolve ourselves into better human beings. Makara Sankranti is one such important festival. It occurs on 14thJanuary when the sun turns from the South towards the North.

The physical significance of the turning of the sun towards the North is understood by all because the chilly winter ends and the warmth of glorious spring is felt by all of nature. There is a freshness in the air, the trees adorn themselves with a green dress and bring forth their colorful flowers and sweet fruit. The koel sings from the mango groves. All over the northern hemisphere spring festivals are celebrated in joy.

What is a matter of enjoyment for an extrovert is an occasion for religious observances and renewal of oaths for orthodox Hindus. Life is too precious to be thrown away on frivolous sensualities. The wise rishis of India have therefore taken care to see that no Hindu is left to devise his own method of living his life. His life is prescribed according to a set pattern. January 14 plays a very significant part in keeping Hindus busy with several rituals. Throughout the length and breadth of India, January 14 is considered a holy day for sacred dips in places of pilgrimage, rivers and tanks. The largest gathering is in Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, in an island near Kolkata and in Brahmasarovar at Kurukshetra. The sacred Ganges is believed to have descended on this day from the heavens, in order to reach the nether world – patala. The story connected with it is well known.

© "Tapovan Prasad" (January, 2003) published by Chinmaya Mission, # 2, 13th Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetput, Chennai 600 031. Reprinted with permission

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