Happy pongal, Sankranthi and Lohri

[Guest guest]

Sairam,

 

We wish you a Happy Sankranthi, Pongal and Lohri. May Swami shower hischoiest

blessings on thses happy occcasion on you, your near and Dear ones. Attached is

a powerpoint on What Sri Sathya Sai Baba says on Sankrathi Festival.

 

 

Govindarajans

 

 

Notes on Sankranthi, Pongal and Lohri Festivals

Significance of Makar Sankranthi

The day on which the sun begins it journey northwards is referred to as Makara

Sankranti. Sankramana means "to commence movement" and hence the name Makara

Sankranti given to one of the largest, most auspicious, but varied festival in

the Indian continent. It usually falls in the middle of January. Because of the

geography and size of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons

depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and

position in the context of north or south of India. In south India and

especially the Tamil family, this festival is called Pongal. Pongal is symbolic

of sharing the returns of the bounteous crops and business profits with the

workforce and villagers. This festival for some is to give thanks to God. It is

to show appreciation to those who assisted in the crops for their loyalty,

commitment and selfless love. For many, this day also ushers in the New Year.

Makara Sankranti is also to honour, worship and to pay respect to the world

mother, Saraswati Maa. At the start of this significant event, there is also

worship for the departed ancestors. The period is also considered an ideal time

for aspirants to satisfy "the goals of life". Very significant however, the day

preceding Makara Sankranti is when people discard old and derelict things and

concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. Sweets in generous

quantities are prepared and distributed. Very important though, cooking is done

by the women folk on this occasion. Families are joined together for this

occasion without fail. Brothers pay special tribute to their married sisters by

giving gifts as affirmation of their filial love. The landlord gives gifts of

food, clothes and money to their workforce. On the day after Makara Sankranti,

the animal kingdom is remembered and in particular, the cows. Young girls feed

the animals, birds and fishes as a symbol of sharing. Travel is considered to

be inappropriate, as these days are dedicated for re-union of the families.

Pongal in this sense demonstrates their strong cultural values as well as a

time for change and transformation. And finally, the Gurus seek out their

devotees to bestow blessings on them. When one examines the many rituals, rites

and the piousness attached to Makara Sankranti, it is very obvious that this

festival has deep spiritual significance, rooted in an unshakable divine

history. Makara Sankranti has similarities to many, if not all, of the major

festivals such as Shivratri, Saraswati Jayanti, Holi, Nau Ratum, Hanuman

Jayanti, Raksha Bandhan, Pitri Paksk, Dusshera, Divali and Kartik. This is

clearly an indication that all the major festivals are related and are not

stand alone or isolated events.

 

Significance of Pongal Festival

Pongal is a four day long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern

state of India. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food,

there has been some form of Harvest Festival. Pongal, one of the most important

popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to

nature takes its name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the

month of Thai (January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals,

sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are

harvested.Mid-January is an important time in the Tamil calendar. The harvest

festival, Pongal, falls typically on the 14th or the 15th of January and is the

quintessential `Tamil Festival'. Pongal is a harvest festival, a traditional

occasion for giving thanks to nature, for celebrating the life cycles that give

us grain. Tamilians say `Thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum', and believe that

knotty family problems will be solved with the advent of the Tamil month Thai

that begins on Pongal day. This is traditionally the month of weddings. This is

not a surprise in a largely agricultural community -- the riches gained from a

good harvest form the economic basis for expensive family occasions like

weddings.

 

Significance of Lohri - The Bonfire Festival

Though Lohri festival has no religious significance but it holds a great social

significance and is celebrated as a day of imparting social love to one and

all. The festival of Lohri is meant to relieve people from worldly day to day

routine, and make them relaxed, cheerful and happy. It is the time when people

from all castes and social strata come together forgetting all past differences

and grievances. Every year Lohri succeeds in bridging the social gap, as people

visit homes, distribute sweets and greet each other. Apart from this, the

festival of Lohri is related to the harvest season. Harvest and fertility

festivals a special significance for an agrarian country like India. Punjab

being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain

production, it is little wonder that Lohri is its one of the most significant

festival. Thus, Lohri is symbolic of ripening of the crops and of copious

harvest. Lohri instill sensitivity among the people towards their environment

and culture. The fundamental theory behind the festival of Lohri is the sense

of togetherness and the culturally rich legacy of the people of Punjab.Lohri in

Punjab and Haryana have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare.

They believe in celebrating this harvest festival together and rejoicing it to

the fullest. For the masses this festival is a popular occasion for social

intercourse and enjoyment. They make a bonfire and roast 'fresh chholia' (green

gram) in pods with its leaves and stems intact, and eat it. They also sing and

dance sitting around the fire. Lohri is thus a community festival and is always

celebrated by getting together with neighbors and the relatives. The focus of

Lohri is on the bonfire. The traditional dinner with makki ki roti and sarson

ka saag is quintessential. The prasad comprises of five main items: til

(gingelly) , gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup) , gur

(jaggery) , moongphali (peanuts) , and phuliya (popcorn). There is puja,

involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolises

a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and

prosperity.Therefore, the festival of Lohri has great social significance. This

time is considered auspicious for marriages and to undertake new ventures. The

farmer, comparatively free from his yeoman's duties, takes to fun and frolic.

The golden color of the ripening corn in the fields pleases him. For newly-weds

and newborns, Lohri is a special occasion. Families of the bride and groom get

together and celebrate by dancing around the fire and expressing their joy.

Lohri is a grand event of social and cultural integration, bringing about

unity, amity, harmony among all castes and communities

 

 

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