Not just the flavourful kites of different colours and sweet dishes that knock on the door while the festival of Makar Sankranti touches the doorsteps. Festival: This festival of Hindus is celebrated on the 14th of January every year and hidden in it lies many scientific facts which are yet to be discovered. Based on the cycle time and vintage calendar based on the roofing orb, Makar Sankranti is the sun’s movement from the Taurus to the Capricorn. It symbolizes an increase in daylight and the end of the winter season for individuals in specific zones.
Interestingly, the sun on Makar Sankranti is also equally scientific in the positioning that it has. It comes after the midwinter period and symbolises the start of the auspicious phase of Uttarayana when the sun begins to move in the northern solstice. This transition is now being experienced and affects our lives in areas such as food production, climate and health.It is important to consider the scientific aspect of the Makar Sankranti festival in addition to all the beautiful legends and stories that are related to the festival; this helps to reveal the relations between nature and culture much deeper. Well, now that we know about the Hindu myth and legend that is associated with Makar Sankranti let’s try and delve a little deeper into the scientific attributes behind its celebration.
Significance of Makar Sankranti in Hindu culture
Festivals such as Makar Sankranti are very popular in Hindu culture. This festival is also referred to as a festival of harvest and comes after the end of the winter solstice. This change of phases from the dark period of the year to the lighter period is widely observed and embraced in India. The celebration of Makar Sankranti is linked with many stories and legends of mythology adding more to the cultural values.
The scientific explanation behind the changing seasons
Seasonal changes are climatic variations that occur because of the revolution of the earth around the sun and the position of the earth on its axis. Due to the tilt of the Earth, as it rotates in a circular motion around the sun, it is obvious that certain sections of the Earth receive less sunlight as compared to other sections. This brings the variation of seasons: whether it is summer, autumn, winter or spring. We know that Makar Sankranti actually brings a shift in the position of the Earth where the north pole begins to tilt towards the sun and hence the period becomes a part of spring.
Understanding the celestial alignment during Makar Sankranti
In fact, the positioning of the sun on the particular day that is Makar Sankranti has plenty of scientific significance. It marks the beginning of the bright fortnight called ‘Uttarayani’ which is the period when the sun starts its journey from the southern side towards the northern direction. This shift occurs when the sun enters Makar or Capricorn, in Hindi. This position of the sun and the Earth is commonly believed to cause the appearance of some sort of energy which is generally regarded to impact almost every aspect of life.
How Makar Sankranti is celebrated across different states in India
Makar Sankranti is a truly colourful Hindu festival that is celebrated with much funfair and in a diverse method in various states of India. This festival is celebrated with the importance of Tilgul which is sesame sweet in Maharashtra and also prayed to the god of sun. In the Indian state of Gujarat, this festival is called “Uttarayan” during which people engage in flying kites and rich cultural activities. In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a four-day, harvest festival celebrated through a dish prepared out of the new harvest cereals. It is to be understood that the positioning of the sun during Makar Sankranti holds a lot of meanings scientifically. It symbolises the auspicious muhurta when the moon begins its bright phase and signifies the first day of Ghatasthapana and Uttarayani. This shift occurs when the sun moves to the zodiac sign known as Makar which is identified as Capricorn in Hindi. This positioning of the sun and the earth is normally thought to bring forth some kind of energy that is put into believing that it controls nearly everything in life.
Another tradition associated with Makar Sankranti is also the preparation of traditional dishes and sweets. In many parts of India, a dish called ‘Khichdi’ which is rice lentils and vegetables is cooked in people’s homes. These ingredients not only offer a nutritional and tasty meal but also convey symbolism of unity and togetherness. Some of the other traditional gujiya like til laddoo, gajak and rabri are also made and distributed among friends and family on this occasion.
The importance of kite flying during Makar Sankranti
Taking Kite flying is an important festival tradition and it is done largely during the Makar Sankranti festival in Gujarat. Enjoyment of kites in this festival is deemed to have both cultural and scientific importance. Scientifically, the practice of flying Kites is useful for one important thing; it is with Kites that people take the sun to get vitamin D after the cold NY winters. It is also known to protect against winter diseases and rejuvenate the body in general. In the same manner, flying kites for those who understand Chinese popular culture, is a symbol of change and letting go.
Health benefits of celebrating Makar Sankranti
Festivals like Makar Sankranti are very healthy for people, as it has many benefits for our health. The change or transition to longer days whereby there is increased exposure to sun aids in increasing the body’s Vitamin D which plays a key role in the health of bones and strengthening of the immune system. It is a fact that the foods prepared especially for this festival like ‘Til Laddoos’ & ‘Khichdi’ etc. contain many nutrients and are capable of providing sufficient energy. Kite flying also encourages children to get out and exercise, making for a healthier heart and a better lifestyle among young people.
But like any other traditional Indian festival, Makar Sankranti has its own myths and misconceptions. One such myth is that Makar Sankranti is a festival that is only popular in India. To be precise, this kind of festival exists in one way or the other in different countries and cultures of the world which underlines its importance. One more misconception is that the practice of flying kites during this festival is unfriendly to birds. But this should not be a reason to ban kite flying since it can be done effectively without polluting the environment or harming the birds and other wildlife by using some environmentally friendly materials and appropriate flying techniques.
Conclusion: Embracing the scientific and cultural significance of Makar Sankranti
Therefore, one must realize that Makar Sankranti is not only about flying kites and eating sweets but also about acknowledging scientific advances and cultural pride. When we comprehend the importance of this festival within the astronomical context and discover the marvellous scientific mysteries of the star or constellation related to it, one realizes that there is much to learn about the interdependence of nature and culture. The scientific aspects notwithstanding, let us all welcome the colourful spirit of Makar Sankranti even more brightly and enthusiastically!
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