Indian Festivals Part 2: Makar Sakranti and its Significance
Significance of Indian festival Makar Sakranti 1. Name of the fesival Makar Sakranti/ Pongal/ Bihu/ Uttarayan 2. Celebration date 14th or 15th January or last day of Indian 'Poush' month. 3. Celebration mode Bhagavan Surya (Sun God) is worshiped on this day in Hindu religion. On this day people take a holy dip in rivers, especially in holy river Ganga to clear past sins. In many parts of India Makar Sankranti is celebrated by flying kites. 4. Celebrated by Farmers and common people (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhist) of India, Nepal, Cambodia, Mayanmar and Thailand 5. Significance of the festival ‘Makara’ an animal as per our holy texts, half-terrestrial and half-aquatic, and it is often depicted as a crocodile. ‘Makara’ or Capricorn, the tenth of the twelve lunar months. Makara the vehicle of Lord Varuna, the God of Sky, Water. Crocodile represents the materialistic world. It is considered to be a guardian of gateways. 'Sankranti' means a) last day of...