from wikipedia
Makar Sankranti (Assamese: মকৰ সংক্রান্তি, Kannada: ಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ, Marathi: मकर संक्रांती, Sanskrit: मकर संक्रान्ति, Tamil: தைப்பொங்கல், Telugu: మకర సంక్రాంతి) or Sankranti or Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India.
Owing to the vast geography and diversity of the culture of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons and in innumerable ways depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background, and location.
Sankranti has been celebrated for the last 6000 years. Archeological findings in Latin America prove that the Mayans celebrated something similar to Sankranthi. Pongal, Pala kayalu, are some spring festival celebrated on the same date as of Sankranti.
Sankranti is the Sanskrit word, which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rāshi(zodiac in Indian astrology) to the other. There are 12 such sankrantis in all. The Sankranti festival usually refers to Makara Sankaranti, or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara rashi (Capricorn).
For this purpose, the Zodiac signs are considered sidereally, and not tropically, as in western astronomy, thus not accounting for the Earth's precession. The festival takes place around 21 days after the tropical winter solstice (between December 20 and 23rd) that marks the start of Uttarayana, which means northward journey of the Sun.
The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. The shortest day of the year is around December 21–22, after which the days begin to get longer. The winter Solstice is on December 21 or December 22, when the tropical sun enters Makara rashi. Therefore the date of Uttarayana is December 21. This was the actual date of Makar Sakranti too. But because of the Earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and the precession of the Equinoxes, Ayanamasha occurs. This has caused Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makar Sankranti was on December 31 and is now on January 14. Five thousand years later, it shall be by the end of February, while in 9000 years it shall come in June.[citation needed]
While the traditional Indian Calendar is based on lunar positions, Sankranti is a solar event. So while dates of all Hindu festivals keep changing as per the Gregorian calendar, the date of Makar Sankranti remains constant over a long term, 14 January. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Magha.
Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar in India, this occasion is named as Makar Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date of the 14th of January every year.
Apart from being a harvest festival, Makar Sankranti is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase. It is referred to as the auspicious transition, and marks the end of the inauspicious phase, which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified from this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.
All over the country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. Being the festival of Sun God, who is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.
In 2011, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on the 15th of January, because the sun enters Makar rashi (Capricorn) at 6:44 pm on the 14th, and as per Hindu mythology any event is considered auspicious when the event occurs on the day before the sun rises on that day. So any event beginning with the rise of the sun is believed to be auspicious. Makar Sankranti is therefore on the 15th of January in 2011.
1. According to the Puranas, on this day Surya(Sun) visits the house of his son Shani(Saturn), who is the lord of the Makar rashi(Zodiac Capricorn). Though the father and son duo did not get along well, the Surya made it a point to meet his son on this day. He, in fact, comes to his son’s house, for a month. This day thus symbolizes the importance of the special relationship between father and son.[1]
2. From Makar Sankranti starts the ‘day’ of devatas(Gods), while dakshinayana (southward movement of the sun) is said to be the ‘night’ of devatas, so most of the auspicious things are done during this time. Uttarayana is also called as Devayana, and the dakshinayana' is called Pitrayana.[citation needed]
3. It was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing terror of the Asuras(Demons) by finishing them off and burying their heads under the Mandara Parvata. So this occasion also represents the end of 'negativities' and beginning of an era of righteous living.[citation needed]
4. Maharaja Bhagiratha, performed great penance to bring Ganga down to the earth for the redemption of 60,000 sons of Maharaj Sagar, who were burnt to ashes at the Kapil Muni Ashram, near the present day Ganga Sagar. It was on this day that Bhagirath finally did tarpan[clarification needed] with the Ganges water for his unfortunate ancestors and thereby liberated them from the curse. After visiting the Pataala(underworld) for the redemption of the curse of Bhagirath’s ancestors the Ganges finally merged into the sea. A very big Ganga Sagar Mela is organized every year on this day at the confluence of River Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. Thousands of Hindus take a dip in the water and perform tarpan for their ancestors.[2]
5. Another well-known reference of this day came when the great grand-sire of Mahabharata fame, Bhishma, declared his intent to leave his mortal coil on this day. He had the boon of Ichha-Mrityu(death at his will) from his father, so he kept lying on the bed of arrows till this day and then left his mortal coil on Makar Sankranti day. It is believed that the person, who dies during the period of Uttarayana, becomes free from transmigration(rebirth). So this day was seen as a definite auspicious day to start a journey or endeavours to the higher realms beyond.[citation needed]
6. Sikhs celebrate it as Maghi. The tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh tore the Beydaava written by 40 Sikhs and gave them Mukhti on this day. These 40 Sikhs later came to be known as 40 Mukhtas.[citation needed]
Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus and is celebrated in almost all parts of India in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion. Millions of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar (the point where the river Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal) and Prayag and pray to the Sun God (Surya). It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Pongal, and in Punjab as Maghi.
In the western Indian state of Gujarat, the celebrations are even bigger. People offer thousands of their colorful oblations to the Sun in the form of beautiful kites. The act stands as a metaphor for reaching to their beloved God, the one who represents the best. In the rural and coastal areas, cock fights are held and is a prominent event of the festival. Makara Sankranti is also to honour, worship and to pay respect to Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge). At the start of this significant event, there is also worship for the departed ancestors.
Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The six months of northern movement of the sun is followed by six months of southern movement.
Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery is a specialty of the festival. In the western Indian state of Maharashtra it is called 'Tilgul'. In Karnataka it is called 'Yellu-Bella'. In some states cattle are decorated with various colours and are made to jump over a bon-fire.
It is celebrated differently in different regions of India.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Makar Sankranti Kite Festival Bandra 2011
Her Life Is Much Cheaper Than The Sacrificial Bakra Idd Goat
Her Life Is Much Cheaper Than The Sacrificial Bakra Idd Goat, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
161,591 items / 1,274,661 views
many a times
the bigot
an unforgiving muslim
will boast that 'beneath the
hijab it is a beggar hindu woman
who makes the most a street
opportunity she hosts
but if you read the body
language of pain
the lingering loss
you will note
the beggar womans
life is much cheaper
than the sacrificial
bakra idd goat
the expensive dumba
sometimes a camel
or the exotic long
haired chinese goat
a fortune to appease god
while womanhood
begging children
on the streets afloat
a memory
butcher time smote
a poem my camera
captured pain
overwrought
a silence
a searing
scream
i report
The Hijras Have Ordered A Kite Made of Condoms ...
The Hijras Have Ordered A Kite Made of Condoms ..., originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
161,589 items / 1,274,548 views
protection
is a must
says the hijra
whore devoid
of lust
a business
task risk factors
drunks druggies
as customers
she cant trust
every thrust
going from
bad to worst
asses to asses
dust to dust
was it the hijra
or the effeminate man
that came first
androgynous
sexuality of the
accursed
rectal rhapsody
on the soul
of humanity
disbursed
petulance
poesy
a thought
well versed
In The Amniotic Waters of Our Doom....
in the amniotic waters of our doom we float
we bloat once we come out time slaughters
us like sacrificial goats burdened forever
by quote unquote ..
.life is nothing but a leaking boat
hope and humanity keeps it afloat
to isabell pentell
Dead Poets Tell No Lies
being
overtly honest
their only vice
they are slaughtered
every day '
they pay a price
death is freeing poetry
from the cross of christ
bleeding nailed
since time immemorial
pain as flesh soul in disguise
The Life The Struggle of the Marathi Manoos Continues
The Life The Struggle of the Marathi Manoos Continues, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
one day
soon after
her death
her children
will collect her dues
for all the years
of her life
lost in abuse
a system
with eyes closed
whom to accuse
its not the marathi poor
only the rich the powerful
who find place in the news
The White Collar Muslim Madarsa Beggars
With a mike in hand they beg on the streets
adding competition to the lame the blind
the leper beggar or one like me barefeet
each one of us wrapped in a winding sheet
a system we accept but cannot beat
Two Blind Men One Incorrigible Drug Addict
161,581 items / 1,274,488 views
The guy on the extreme right followed me for sometime demanding I give him one of my finger rings..and I kept telling him to fuck off .. he did when I became abusive and this is the scene on a normal day in Bandra when you are as badly dressed as me and barefeet.
The Untold Story Of This Hijab
161,580 items / 1,274,481 views
beneath
this hijab
lies the
sad story
of a sad segment
of our muslim race
the beggar woman
on the streets of remorse
begging in disgrace
she me my camera
face to face
you will generally
find her outside
gods house
always
for a few coins
for your soul
she prays
by a system
call it her bad luck
she was betrayed
the silhouette
of the hijab
covering her
womanly souls
eternal shame
or is it god
on whom we
put the blame
or his godliness
that through
jehad suicide bombs
the bigot disclaims
all under his
providence
but his name
an evil matrix
ongoing virtual game
eunuch silence
of the minarets
all the same
a scourge
no man will
ever tame
blasphemed
beyond redemption '
bad aim ill famed
I shot her in the kite land of Bandra .. where the rich and mighty roam before Makar Sankranti the flight of kites
I am a Kite on a Dream Flight
161,579 items / 1,274,422 views
I cover
I uncover
I re discover
Bandra
through
running images
gain and loss
I shoot the smell
the chaos the cacophony
of the simmering soul
as it slaves as it slogs
of Bandra
sleeping beauty
ugliness
through blogs
flying kites sleeping dogs
elucidating pain as poetry
poetry as pathos
gutters glitz guts and gloss
despair fecundity humility
decadence a tired tear
glistening in the moss
the trishul the crescent
the bleeding cross
I am what I am
as I was what I was
fuck editorial constrains
I moderate my angst
I am my own boss
a full stop of
unfulfilled desires
unfinished poetic pause
what my camera sees
is what comes across
like a drop of a delirious
dreamless 'sperm
I squirm I worm I toss
pain passion
of the wizard of oz
You Buy One Dabbang Kite You Get One Veer Kite Free
You Buy One Dabbang Kite You Get One Veer Kite Free, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
Dabbang Kites are selling n Black..
Musalman Patang Banate Hain Asman Main Hindu Unhe Udate Hain
Musalman Patang Banate Hain Asman Main Hindu Unhe Udate Hain, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
161,527 items / 1,274,174 views
donon mil julkar
ek sath rehkar
bhai bhai bankar
ekta ka sabak
sikhate hain
bharat desh ko
age badate hain
makar sankranti main
hope humanity
patang ke zariye
ye message
pahunchate hai
ek bargad ka ped
uske branches
aur roots
ban jate hain
idd aur diwali
ek dusre ke
seene se
lag jate hain
Makar Sankranti Kite Festival Mumbai
Makar Sankranti
Makara Sankranti is a mid-winter Hindu festival of India and Nepal. The festival is celebrated to mark the transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (or the beginning of Uttarayana). The famous Kumbh Mela is also held on Makar Sankranti every 12 years. Sol redirects here. ... Sagittarius is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Sagittarius. ... Capricorn is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Capricornus. ... Northern hemisphere highlighted in yellow. ... The 2001 Kumbh Mela. ...
Contents
* 1 Introduction
* 2 Regional variations
* 3 Mela
* 4 External links
Introduction
Makara Sankranti is the only Hindu festival which is based on the Solar calendar rather than the Lunar calendar.In some parts of India, the festival is celebrated by taking dips in the Ganga or any river and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow punya. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. A solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the earth on its revolution around the sun (or equivalently the apparent position of the sun moving on the celestial sphere). ... A lunar calendar is a calendar oriented at the moon phase. ... Ganga may refer to: Ganges River, a river in India Ganga, the Hindu goddess that personifies the Ganges River The Gangas, an ancient southern Indian dynasty Ganga (music), a type of rural folk singing from Croatia and Herzegovina Daren Ganga, a West Indian cricketer Ganga, an alternate spelling of ganja... In the Hindu theory of Karma, Punya is merit that accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts or thoughts and that carries over to later in life or to a persons next birth. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflowing river Shipra. ...
Since the festival is celebrated in the mid winter, the food prepared for this festival are such that they keep the body warm and give high energy. Laddu of til made with Jaggery (Gur)is specialty of the festival.In Maharshtra it is called 'Tilgul', but the place where it is celebrated with much pomp is Andhra Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated for 3 days and is more of a cultural festival unlike an auspicious day as in other parts of india. sarah rules no matter what you say!!!!! Motichoor ladoo is a popular variant. ...
Regional variations
Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India and Nepal with some some regional variations:
* In North India,
o Punjab - Lohri
o West Bengal and Assam - Bhogali Bihu
o Gujarat and Rajasthan - Uttarayan (Kite flying festival)
* In South India,
o In Tamilnadu - Pongal
o In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - Sankranthi
* Other parts of India as Makara Sankranti
* In Nepal,
o Tharu people - Maghi
o Other people - Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati
Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... , This article is about the Indian state of Punjab. ... Pongal (பொஙà¯à®•à®²à¯ in Tamil) is an Indian festival to give thanks for the harvest. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশà§à¦šà¦¿à¦®à¦¬à¦™à§à¦— Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Assam (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ... This article is for the Indian state. ... , RÄjasthÄn (DevanÄgarÄ«: राजसà¥à¤¥à¤¾à¤¨, IPA: ) is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Uttarayan, also known as Makarsakranti, is a kite-flying festival celebrated annually on January 14 in western India; it is a public holiday in Gujarat and Rajasthan. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the two Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... This article is about the Pongal festival. ... , KarnÄtakÄ (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... “Andhra†redirects here. ... Sankranthi, or Sankranti, is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of India. ... Makar Sankranti is a mid-winter festival of India and Nepal. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Maghe sankranti is a Nepalese festival observed in the month of January (at the end of the month of Magh). ...
Mela
Many Melas or fairs are held on Makar Sankranti the most famous being the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at one of four holy locations, namely Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nashik. The Magh Mela (or mini-Kumbh Mela held annually at Prayag) and the Gangasagar Mela (held at the head of the Ganges River, where it flows into the Bay of Bengal). For Mela Festivals today, see Mela Festival. ... The 2001 Kumbh Mela. ... , Haridwar (also spelt as Hardwar, Hindi: हरिदà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°) is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... , Ujjain (Hindi:उजà¥à¤œà¥ˆà¤¨) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... , Nashik (Marathi: ) ( ) or Nasik (Marathi: ) is a city in Indias Maharashtra state. ... This article is about the river. ... Look up Bay of Bengal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Makara Sankranti is celebrated in Kerala at Sabarimala where the Makara Jyothi is visible followed by the Makara Vilakku celebrations. Sabarimala (Malayalam :ശബരിമല) is a pilgrim centre in Kerala in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of India. ... Makara Jyothi is a beacon that appears at dusk on the day of Makara Sankaranthi (14 January) on the Kantamala hills facing (north-eastern side) the Sabarimala temple, a popular Hindu pilgrim center in Kerala. ...
External links
* When is Makar Sankranti? Dates of Makar Sankranti until 2010
* Lohri Bai Lohri Kaka Charea Ghodi
Categories: Gujarati culture | Ethnic groups in India | Festivals in India | Festivals in Nepal | Hindu festivals | Hindu astronomy | Kites | January observances | Ethnic groups in South Asia | Indo-Aryan peoples | Winter festivals
Results from FactBites:
Makar Sankranti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (487 words)
Makar Sankranti is a mid-winter festival of India.
The reason why Makar Sankranti is celebrated more than any other is that it marks the day the Sun starts moving north and the auspicious half of the year characterised by increasing daylight begins.
Makar Sankranti falls on January 14 on non-leap years and on January 15 on leap years.
Makar Sankranti - Encyclopedia, History, Geography and Biography (501 words)
Makar Sankranti means the day the Sun enters Capricorn.
Instead of the celebrating on the day of the Winter Solstice - Makar Sankranti is celebrated on Jan 14th the day the Sun enters the next zodiac sign according to Hindu astrology.
Many Melas or fairs are held on Makar Sankranti the most famous being the Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years at "Sangam", the confluence of the River Ganga and Yamuna at Benaras.
www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Makar-Sankranti
Dogpile
A group of people jumping on on person and creating a tower of people while crushing the people on bottom.
Poetry is the Essence of Hope And Humanity
161,517 items / 1,274,049 views
photo courtesy sangram musale talented young photographer ..
Aaditya Thackeray Yuva Sena and the Barefeet Blogger at Mr Pratap Sarnaiks Dahi Handi Vartak Nagar Thane
words
give birth
to essence of
hope and humanity
a banyan tree of poetry
growing on the soul
of mother earth
humility is what adds
to grandeur and girth
a drop of tear
mankind's worth
be it keats shelly
or wordsworth
within the
silhouette
of spectral light
a poets rebirth
dedicated to a father
udhav thackerayji
Lalbagh Chya Raja Living Legend of Mumbai..
161,513 items / 1,273,987 views
he lives
whether
you ask
dont ask
he gives
your shortcomings
each time you reach
home he forgives
dreams he bring to life
he weaves he is
mee mumbaikar
beyond caste color
religiosity
or belief
lalbagh his home
your home his fief
The World is My Umbrella At Bandra Reclamation
The World is My Umbrella At Bandra Reclamation, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
161,512 items / 1,273,966 views
I shot this yesterday and though I have uploaded it now , I housed all the earlier pictures of this strong willed lady as a set on Flickr.com this morning , adding some of them as links and pictures on Facebook.
I dont go overboard shooting her she is a stones throw from where I stay , but I shoot her on impulse , her story of survival is real and mind blowing , she has lived beneath an umbrella facing the seasons the wrath of the monsoons and now the anger of the sudden Mumbai chill ,,and she does not complain , she does not beg, she is not a beggar , she does not talk but people give her food money , means to continue with her singular battle in life with nature and the karmic wheel of her broken down body but all this has not caused a dent to her resilience she has faced it all the cloud burst , heavy showers under the spectrum of this umbrella.
And in a way I chronicle her struggle this nameless woman , who some say is connected to an affluent family , I have never asked her story , never will.
But I blog about her holistically showing you her life through running images of the marathon of her freedom struggle.. and though enslaved to a mound on the rocks she is free metaphorically , she frees me to edges me to move on without grumbling or whining for the semi darkness of my own life too.
The Umbrella lady of Bandra Reclamation sees life as it moves from the back lanes of Bandra Bazar to the main road leading out of Bandra, she has seen morchas, feasts festivals , the Hare Rama Kare Krishna Rath Yatra , she has seen Baba Siddiqui, she has seen and everyday sees Ashish Shelar moving up and down this road , she has seen Priya Dutt , Salman Khan , but has anyone really seen her , well that is not part of my the story of my blog..
You can only see if you are gifted with eyes too see , Marziya Shakir my 3 year old grand daughter sees her, has always seen her nudging me to give her a tenner she will take the money and hand it over too the lady with sheer respect and politeness , and call it charity or what you may, but a child of three is beyond all human virtues , good bad or ugly..
So what the Bandra Reclamation lady needs is rehabilitation , counseling and holistically human touch, I did tell Sister Christobel of Roses of Mother Theresa , but her van has yet to reach this side of Bandra.. this is a predominantly poor Muslim slum society too called Lal Mitti..
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
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Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ali Mira Datar Unava Gujrat , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. HAZRAT SYED ALI MIRA DATAR'S G...
