It has been a fortnight since the beginning of this new year and some of us may have failed to abide by our new year resolutions, like quit smoking or start exercising etc. Fortunately in the Indian calendar system we have many more new year days than the Gregorian calendar, which has just one new year day - the 1st of January, to make amends. Makar Sankrati is one of many days, which is celebrated as a new year day and therefore we can all use this opportunity to redeem our respective resolutions from Makar Sankranti day - today/tomorrow. While wishing all my friends a very happy Makara Sankranti, I also wish to inform those of you for whom the new year 2021 (as per Gregorian Calendar) has began on a bad note, don’t be disappointed, there are other days ahead, when you can ring out the old and ring in the new and Makara Sankaranti is one such day, in the Hindu calendar, which gives you this opportunity to move on.
Makar Sankranti (Sankranti meaning ‘movement) is the first major Hindu festival in the Gregorian calendar, celebrated with much fervor across most parts of India. This auspicious day - the harvest day - marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac Capricorn (Makara). This holy festival symbolizes the arrival of spring. Like the socio cultural diversity that spans across India the Makar Sankranti too has its own geographical variants across the country, yet this day is celebrated with the same enthusiasm all across India. Makara Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri in North India by the Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs, Sukarat in Central India, Magh Bihu in Assam, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Ghughuti of Uttarakhand, Magh saaj of Himachal, Makara Chaula of Odisha, Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bengal, Bihar, and the uttarayan a of Gujrat and Rajasthan. Makar Sankranti is also associated with kite flying, dances, bonfires, fairs and mass pilgrimages to sacred rivers.
The festival of Makara Sankranti marks the onset of Uttarayan - a period when the Sun starts its six months journey towards the north and making the days longer with more light and less darkness. This period is considered as auspicious for the Hindus, who observe a wide variety of spiritual practices on this day. Many take a holy dip in rivers, to absolve them of their ‘past sins’. The festival is also known for a rich variety of food delicacies, which are prepared and offered as Prasadam to the deity while thanking almighty for a good harvest. Many sweets like laddoos made of til and jaggery, patishaptas, jaggery and rice pudding, among others are prepared during this period. The day is spent singing traditional songs, dancing and even preparing a bonfire in the evening.
India is a land of diversity with many religions, languages and regional cultures all of which coexist in social harmony. This diversity also gets carried to the calendars that govern peoples’ social and religious lives. If one asks many Indians, when is the Indian New Year’s day, it is very easy to get different answers and one such new year is the Makara Sankranti festival day. The history of calendars in India is a remarkably complex subject owing to the long continuity of Indian civilization and to the diversity of cultural influences. At the time of our Independence and a decade later, it was observed that there were about 30 calendars in use for setting religious festivals for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains in India. Some of these calendars were also used for civil dating. These calendars were based on some common principles, though they had local characteristics determined by long-established customs and the astronomical practices of local calendar makers. In addition, Muslims in India use the Islamic calendar, and the Indian government uses the Gregorian calendar for all administrative purpose. With so many calendars in vogue in India, the Government of India under Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, deemed it fit to have a holistic view to the issue of calendars and their usage.
It is for this reason and in observation of the fact that there were many different calendars, which were used in India, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR) Government of India, appointed a Calendar Reform Committee, in November 1952, under the chairmanship of the renowned scientist Dr. Meghnad Saha, with the following terms of reference ; “To examine all the existing calendars, which were followed in the country and after a scientific study of the subject, submit proposals for an accurate and uniform calendar for the whole of India". The distinguished Calendar reforms Committee consisted of Prof. M.N. Saha, (Chairman), Prof. A.C. Banerji, Vice-Chancellor, Allahabad University, Dr. K.L. Daftari, Nagpur, Shri J.S. Karandikar, Ex-Editor, The Kesari, Poona, Dr. Gorakh Prasad, D.Sc., Allahabad University, Prof. R.V. Vaidya, Madhav College, Ujjain, and Shri N.C. Lahiri, Calcutta (Secretary). (Dr. Gorakh Prasad and Shri N.C. Lahiri came in place of Prof. S.N. Bose and Dr. Akbar Ali who were originally appointed but were unable to serve). The committee studied various calendars that were in vogue in India and after close examination of these calendars recommended a uniform all-India calendar for both civil and religious use. They recommended a unified solar calendar for civil use. The Government of India accepted the proposal and introduced it as the Indian national calendar with effect from 22nd March 1957.
Notwithstanding the official calendars in India, when it comes to festivals there will continue to be different days, which are celebrated as new year for many people. Besides Makara Sankranti, there are other days that are celebrated as New Year’s Day in India. Some of these include, as per the lunar calendar, the spring harvest time in April, which is celebrated as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in north and central India, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Tamil Putthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala, Bishuva Sankranti in Odisha and Poila Boishakh in Bengal. Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the Hindus of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa and Konkan belt as new year. Cheiraoba in Manipur, Navreh in Kashmir and Cheti Chand is celebrated by Sindhi Hindus as their new year. In Gujarat, Bestu Varas is celebrated around October/November time as new year. Most business men celebrated Deepavali as their New Year’s Day. The Indians therefore have many more opportunities to celebrate the new year and to redeem our resolutions for our better future.
Once again wishing you all a very happy Makara Sankranti and hope that you will all use this auspicious occasion to ring out the old and ring in the new.
No comments:
Post a Comment