Makar Sankranti,the festival of kites and til chikkis is here ! And while you're busy cutting the manjha of your neighbour's kite while depleting the world's supply of sesame'think back of a little on what all you know about the festival,other than it's playful and satiates your chikki desires ? Can't think of anything ? Read On !
1.One Of the few Indian Festivals that falls on the same day every year according to the Gregorian Calender.
Most Hindu festivals Follow The postion of the moon and are based on the lunar calendar.Thus,the dates of festivals change every year.But Makar Sankranti is a festival which falls on the same day every year as it follow the solar calendar.but This Year there is a Difference in The date of Makar Sankranti and This occasion will held on 15 jan of 2016. So this fact is NoMore Real.
2. Why is it called makar sankranti ?
On Makar sankranti, the sun enters the sun sigh of capricorn or Makara (the indian rashi ).Thererdore the "Makar "in the name. The word "Sankranti " signifies the movement of the sun from one zodiac sign to another. Thus,the name of the festival liternally mean the movement of the into Capricorn
3. Day and Night Are Equally long On Makar Sankranti Day.
As Makar Sankranti in one of the oldest festival cebrated by the Indian Person and on the equinox,the great fact about that is day and night on this day are believed to be equally long. psot the festival,it is offically the beginning of spring or the onset of indian summer and the days become longer , and night shorter.
4.Same festival,a Million different names.
Though extremely Popular makar sankaranti , the festival is predominantyly harvest festival and is celebrated throughout india, from north to South and east to wst.While Makar sankranti is most popular in West India,down south,thefestival is know as pongal and in the north,is is celebrated as Lohri.Uttarayan,maghi,Khichdi are some other names of the same festival
5.Why do we fly kites on Makar Sankranti ?
There is a very interesting reason behind the kite flying. Kite flying in olden days was generally done in the early hours of the morning , when the sun's rays were bright but not long harsh.Also,during kite flying ,the human body was exposed to the sun for long hours.the early morning sun is considered benefical for the skin and body.Since winter is also the time alot of infections and sickness, by basking in the sun, Hindus believed that the bad bacteria on their bodies wouls be cleared to a certaion extent,Creating a Fun way of Sun basking where no one would even realise they were reaping benefits was through kite flying.Cool right ?
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