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Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explained the importance of celebrating Makar Sankranti. There are twelve Sankranti in a year, out of which Makar Sankranti is considered the most important because it is from here that Uttarayan Punyakal begins. On this auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, we worship the Sun God. When the winter season starts ending, the Sun God comes out of Capricorn and turns towards the north and this is called Uttarayan. On the day of Makar Sankranti we remember Sun God and express our gratitude towards him. Although the whole year is considered auspicious, but this time of Uttarayan is considered more auspicious because it is the time of the gods.
Celebrated in different states
We have been celebrating this festival with great enthusiasm for centuries. This Uttarayan period is celebrated as Lohri in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi, as Bihu in Assam and as Pongal in Tamil Nadu. At this time, after harvesting one crop, farmers sow seeds for another crop and celebrate. From this day the cold starts reducing and it also indicates the arrival of spring. At this time new crops like sesame, sugarcane, groundnut and paddy grow. By mixing all these, Khichdi is made on the first day and then everyone divides it among themselves. Cow is also worshiped on the second day. When the new crop arrives, everyone eats it together and also donates it.
It is said that on the day of Makar Sankranti, Lord Ganga was pleased with the penance of King Bhagiratha and granted salvation to sixty thousand of his ancestors. Although bathing in Ganga has special significance in every festival, bathing in Ganga is considered to have special significance on Makar Sankranti. Those who are close to Gangaji, they definitely take bath in Gangaji, but where Gangaji is not there, we should understand that Ganga is in our own house. Taking bath in Ganga on the occasion of Makar Sankranti means taking bath in the Ganga of knowledge. Knowledge brings comfort to people from generation to generation and when we meditate and live in knowledge, its impact is not limited to us but extends to future generations and our ancestors.
A special message for Makar Sankranti
On Makar Sankranti we exchange sesame seeds and jaggery. Tiny sesame seeds remind us that our importance in this universe is only equivalent to a tiny particle like a sesame seed – almost nothing. The feeling of ‘I am nothing’ destroys our ego and brings humility in us. This is ‘Akinchanatva’ which means ‘I am nothing’. This world is infinite. There are millions and millions of stars, one of which is the Sun; There are many planets in the solar system, one of which is Earth! So how many people came and went here? When it is realized that we are nothing in this vast universe, ego and belief: all causes of problems disappear and you become as natural as a newborn baby. This message is given through the symbol of sesame.
eat sesame seeds and speak sweetly
On this day in Maharashtra, people greet each other by saying ‘eat sesame seeds and say sweet’. Sweets become indispensable for us because if the blood sugar level in our body decreases, it has a negative impact on our health. Jaggery means sweetness; Sweetness is the basis of life. Makar Sankranti gives us the message that how important it is for sweetness like jaggery and gentleness like sesame seeds to remain together in our lives!