Happy Makar Sankranti!
Jan 14, 2021 04:31PM ● By Katrina Hall
The holy festival of Makar Sankranti (San-kran-ti) celebrates the arrival of the sun into Capricorn (a movement called ‘Uttarayan’), marking the beginning of longer days and the harvest of India. The festival’s name derives from two words, Makar, meaning Capricorn, and Sankranti, meaning transition. The deity Surya (sun) is worshipped in accordance with the astrological calendar followed by many Hindus, typically on or around January 14th each year. Anita Saxena, an Indian-American who hails from
the northern capital city of Delhi, and Rajya Lakshmi Palakodety, from Visakhapatnam in the southern state of Andra Pradesh, are both life-long participants in the festival celebrating charity, abundance, and above all, a grateful spirit. “The differences between North and South India are due to the subtle differences in the changes in seasons. The various southern states like Andhra, Tamilnadu, Karnatka and Kerala are more culturally diverse. We have followed our family tradition for generations.” says Palakodety.
The pluralistic nation of 1.35 billion people has immense diversity, a cultural element highlighted in Makar Sankranti, with festivities differing in name, custom, and duration by region. In northern regions such as Punjab, the festival is called Lohri , observed on January 13th instead of the 14th, and is typified by kite flying in addition to bonfires, rituals, and foods described for Sankranti. “We are not in our own country, so aspects of the festival have to be different. We can’t do the holy bath in the Ganges [a river that flows through India and Bangladesh], but we can still value the celebration of charity, bounty, and the harvest with our friends and family here. We can worship the sun, being thankful for its movement to warmer days. We can still pray and be grateful,” says Saxena of celebrating here in Maryland. Saxena and Palakodety, both recall the food of the festival as one of the most important and memorable aspects of the celebration.
Popular dishes served for Makar Sankranti include a variety of sweet dishes made from lentil or rice flours such as Minapa Sunni Undalu ,(ghee-fried sesame seed balls sweetened with cane sugar), and savory offerings such as jantakalu (a savory combination of flour, ghee, and spices fried in oil) and black lentils and rice. Exchanges of food gifts between family members is common to celebrate the harvest; while children are often given nutritious treats. Palakodety recalls her own childhood experience, “...the adults shower the kids with jujuba fruits by placing them on their heads and giving them blessings for a healthy life. Children are blessed by giving them turmeric, money, and flowers, typically marigolds.” Children and their families also enjoy flying kites all over India in observance of the holiday.
As adults, the exchange of kumkuma (a powder of turmeric and slaked lime) between wives is a time-honored tradition to bring a happy married life. All members of the family make offerings of freshly harvested food or milk to the sun god and pray, welcoming the warmer months of plenty. “We have followed our family tradition for generations. Sankranti can be viewed as a much needed social gathering after a wet, cold winter,” Palakodety says of the generational revelries. “It’s goodbye to winter and hello to spring!” Saxena agrees.
Here’s to brighter days ahead!