Sankat Rahe Na Bhay, Raho Sada Nirbhay ~ Bum Bum Bhole!

Sankat Rahe Na Bhay, Raho Sada Nirbhay ~ Bum Bum Bhole!

🕉 Makar Sankranti, also known as Sankranti or Makara Sankrant is a highly auspicious festival celebrated in almost every part of India and Nepal. It is the first Hindu festival of the year and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya Dev. It is a harvest festival celebrated differently in many cultural forms.

🕉 Makar Sankranti denotes neutralization of illusion by lighting inner glow. Makar Sankranti is also called a festival of thanksgiving. On this day, people appreciate each other, perform and pay homage to the Supreme Being for the support He extended throughout the year.

🕉 Makar Sankranti is celebrated to mark the transition of Sun into the zodiac sign Capricorn of Makara rashi on its celestial path. This day also marks the arrival of spring in India which is celebrated traditionally. Sankranthi is one of the rare Indian festivals that falls on the same date every year in the Gregorian calendar, barring few exceptions. The Makar Sankranti date for 2016 is 15th of January. On the day of Makar Sankranti Sun begins its northward movement in the Makar Rashi (Capricorn). A very auspicious day, Makar Sankranti has a profound spiritual significance and refers to a transitional phase where the Sun transits from the house of Sagittarius to the house of Capricorn. It is the festival of new beginnings, new resolutions and new commitments.

🕉 On the day of Makar Sankranti, Lord Surya is worshipped in the form of Nature Worship. At Sakranti time great importance is attached to Ganga snaan and Surya Worship. Bathing, worshipping gods, Havan, Japa, Fasting and Charity; each of these are extremely holy deeds. The ritualistic bathing at the Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) in Allahabad is considered pious. This ritualistic bathing is believed to cleanse one’s sins and open the doors towards Moksha. The day time of Devas known as Uttarayana Punyakalam, which lasts for a period of six months starts with Makar Sankranti. This is an ideal time to do auspicious activities.

🕉 It is believed that on this auspicious day Lord Surya visits his son, Lord Shani who is the ruling Deity of Makar Rashi (Capricorn). Surya Dev and Shani Dev don't get along well. But on this auspicious day they put their bitterness for each other behind them and make a new beginning.

🕉 As per Mahabharata, the warrior Bhishma Pitamah leaves his earthy body on this day. It is believed that those who pass away on this day attain Moksha or liberation. It is on this day that King Bhagirath brought the Holy Ganga to Earth, thus providing Moksha to the 60,000 sons of Maharaj Sagar. The king offered an oblation of the Gangajal to liberate the souls. Lord Vishnu, on this day put an end to the surging violence of the demons and buried their heads under the foothills of Mandar Parvat.

🕉 Different parts of India celebrate the Makarsankranti in different ways. Tamilians celebrate it as Pongal, in Punjab it's called Maghi Mela, while Khichiri is the name for this festival in Uttar Pradesh. On the day of Makar Sankranti, Surya Mantra Japa should be done and Lord Surya should be worshipped. Om Hram Hreem Hroum Sah Suryaya Namah.