CELEBRATING

From socioeconomic perspective to religious viewpoint, Makar Sankranti is not just a festival of farmers or changing seasons,but well beyond that
India is a land of agriculture and almost 70 per cent of its population is directly or indirectly connected with the activity of growing crops. No wonder Makar Sankranti holds immense importance as the festival celebrates the arrival of harvest season.The season is seen as the culmination of the year long effort of farmers that results in the fields full of ready crops, a sight, every farmer longs to see impatiently.



 ln the words or Chaudhary vikram Sirohi of Hissar, a prominent farmer "Makar Sankranti is associated "with the well being of the farmer community. The celebration is a way of paying gratitude to Gods for a good harvest. Fortunately, the last few years have seen good monsoon which is a critical factor for the healthy growth of water dependent yield."This year also, the greenery in the fields is self evident of the happiness spread allaround. The uniqueness of this festival is that it is the only one among a plethora of Indian traditional festivals that do not follow lunar position for celebrations and hence its date is fixed every year; January 14th. The age-old festival is the reflection of high standards of astronomy India was known to witness ever since Aryabhatta,the great scientist of ancient India, established various principles of astronomy thousands of years before the likes of Galileo. In fact when the Sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or in Indian context from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, it initiatés the beginning of they much awaited harvest season. As per the Indian astronomy,Earth’s movement from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and so the movement of Sun into the Capricorn zodiac is known in India as Makar in Hindi, hence the name Makar Sankranti.The festival also signifies advent- of auspicious phase in the Indian cultural realm. With the beginning of this phase sacred rituals are sanctified in Hindu families. Another significance of Makar Sankranti is that it marks the end of winter season and welcomes the 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 Like in every ancient religion, the Sun God plays an important role in the festivities. In many parts, the Sun God is won shipped as the symbol of divinity and wisdom.