Makar Sankranthi, or Sankranti is a festival which is celebrated in various
parts of the country and also in some other parts of the world where a major
chunk of Hindu population resides. In Tamil Nadu this is known as Pongal, in
Assam it is known as Bhogali Bihu, in Punjab, it is known as Lohiri, in Gujarat
and Rajasthan, it is known as Uttararayan. This festival is also celebrated in
Nepal as Maghe Sakrati or Maghi, in Thailand as Songkran and in Myanmar as
Thingyan. It is basically the harvest festival of all the South East Asian
Countries. Sankrant marks the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of
Indian Sub-Continent.
The occasion of Makar Sankrant is not only religiously but also practically
relevant to the people of India. It has a special geo-agri-economical
significance as the Sun enters into the Capricorn zone on its celestial path; it
signifies the end of winter and the beginning of the gradual increase of the
duration of the day. On this occasion, people all over the country celebrate it
with great zeal and pomp. The festival in itself holds an eternal significance
and spiritual importance. Here are few popular quotes on Sankranti that explains
it importance and auspiciousness in Hindu religion
Popular Makar Sankranti Quotes
* Salutations and adorations to the Supreme Lord, the primordial power that
divided the year into the four seasons. Salutations to Surya, the Sun God, who
on this great day of Makar Sankranti embarks on his northward journey (Uttarayana).
- Author Unknown
* The sun, symbolizing wisdom, divine knowledge and spiritual light, which
receded from you when you reveled in the darkness of ignorance, delusion and
sensuality, now joyously turns on its northward course and moves towards you to
shed its light and warmth in greater abundance, and to infuse into you more life
and energy. - Author Unknown
* The sun signifies knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makar Sankranti
signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we
live, and begin to joyously let the light within us shine brighter and brighter.
We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the
sun does from this day. - Swami Sivananda
* Seekers of Truth, aspirants on the path of Yoga, devotees of God, lovers of
mankind, all these have to pay tribute to the supreme father of energy, vital,
which is Surya. ‘Suryah pratyaksha devata’ (The Sun is the visible God). If you
have any visible God, it is the Sun before you. You cannot see God in His
pristine excellence, but you can see God through the operation of his powers in
nature. So, this particular day, we call Makara Sankranti, is holy. - Swami
Krishnananda.
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