New beginnings
It is an auspicious time of celebration in India at this time. Many celebrate the Harvest festival, which heralds the arrival of the New Year. I grew up celebrating Sankranti and fondly remember spending the auspicious day with my family and friends while munching on pieces of sweet sugarcane and nibbling on Tilgul(A sweet made with sugar and sesame seeds).
Sankranti for me is all about celebrating the power of the Sun and rejoicing its luminous presence in our lives. This festival marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara Rashi (Capricorn) from Sagittarius and hence, is also named Makara Sankranti.
Makara Sankranti is celebrated all over India and has many different names.
Kashmir — Shishur Saenkraat
Himachal Pradesh — Magha Saaji
Himlayan region of Darjeeling — Magey Sakrati
Uttarkhand (Kumaon) — Ghughuti
Delhi and Haryana — Sankranti, Sakraat.
Punjab — Maghi, Lohri,
Assam — Magh Bihu, Bhogali Bihu
Mithila — Tila Sakrait
West Bengal — Poush Sangranti
Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh — Khichdi, Kicheri
Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh: Makar Sankrati, Sankrat.
Gujarat — Uttarayan
Maharashtra- Makara Sankranti
Tamil Nadu — Thai Pongal, Uzhavar Thirunal
Karnataka — Suggi Habba, Makara Sankranti
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala — Makar Sankranthi
Contrary to popular belief, the day of Makara Sankranti does not necessarily denote the first day of Uttarayana. Uttarayana or the upward movement of Earth’s axis starts after Winter Solstice (Dec 21st).
Read more on that here.
https://indroyc.com/2015/01/14/makar-sankranti-is-not-uttarayana/
Read the difference between Uttarayana and Makar Sankranti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarayana
Nevertheless, at this point in time, this does not diminish how potent this time the early phase of Uttarayana is for us.
According to the Vedic scriptures and Yogis (I see them as advanced Scientists who could access Universal truths by going beyond their five senses), this time is a celebration of new beginnings.
In Vedic astrology, the Sun is the principal of light, life, and love, or true-will and perception, and on this day, we revere and honor it for all it bestows on us.
Many teachers suggest that chanting of the Gayatri Mantra or the Surya Moola Mantra — Om Suryaye Namah on this day can prove to be beneficial. One may choose to start a Surya Namaskara (Sun salutations) yoga practice or do the Surya Kriya practices if they are called to do so. Certain ancient sadhanas and kriyas (tools and practices) can also help one access the power of the Sun energy within if one desires to practice them.
No matter how we choose to honor the Sun and the light within, what matters most is that we be and do it all wholeheartedly. The power of every practice - big and small - lies in us feeling it in the cells of our body.
For me, I did not get to do much today but it did not take away the joy of the day. The simple act of reading this Hafiz Poem when I woke up was enough to invoke the unconditional love I feel for the Sun and all the life it sustains.
The Sun never says to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
With a love like that, It lights the whole sky.
-Hafiz.
Whether we consciously, believe it or not, the auspicious divine energy of this day is available unconditionally to all of us. It has nothing to do with the mind based laws and concepts of any religion.
The day of Sankranti holds a high level of “pure consciousness” or “cosmic intelligence” in its environment. This consciousness or intelligence is inherently the essence of who we are, and so this day offers us an opportune time to connect with our true selves within.
No matter who we believe we are or which path we take, what matters most is that we feel the love and gratitude of what we perceive in and around us and know that everything we see is sourced, created, and experienced by us and through us.
This time calls us to shine bright in our current truth, making it a perfect time to hold new intentions, begin new projects and start walking on journeys that call to us and serve us best.
THE STORIES
The stories around this auspicious time at a glance may be perceived as “Hindu” stories or religion based but personally to me, the word Hindu was simply a term coined by British to describe the people who originally lived by the Sindhu River. The people in this geographical area followed a way of Life that many recognize as “Sanatana Dharma.”
Sanatana Dharma translates as “Eternal Dharma” or “Timeless Order” which, means a way of life that opens us to our own unique inner experience of the Universal Truth or the innate nature of Consciousness. All stories around Sankranti point us to these profound truths.
A TIME OF CELEBRATION
The Sun brings more light and blooming Life around us. Plants grow, and birds migrate home. It is a symbolic representation of Nature that all the light we see is a reflection of the light we hold within and like birds and plants, we grow in strength, can revel in our wholeness and migrate naturally to the home that nourishes us most.
People start their day before sunrise by bathing in the holy Ganges. The Ganges or not, even basic bathwater has the ability to purify and help us let go of all that is in the past so we may start anew. We let go of our differences, old patterns, our conscious and subconscious beliefs. We stand in the awe of the grandeur of Life that stems from cosmic intelligence. We bow down to it in prayer, committing to play with it.
We recognize, decorate, and celebrate all the things that help us live our full lives. Our new clothes are a symbolic way of embodying our new intentions. The Farmers decorate their cows, honoring the role the cows play in their lives and livelihoods. The harvest is gathered and shared as a sacred offering with all. People share sweetmeats with everyone to acknowledge the sweetness in their lives and express their generosity.
With the winds in play, it is a popular time for Kite flying, especially in West India. Even the act of Kite flying offers us a chance to awaken within and play. To get our kites to fly high, we need to use both our hands, which represent all the tools and resources we have at hand. One hand holds the string steady and strong, releasing just enough at the right time to let the Kite soar upwards. It is a skill that calls for Presence, Intuition, and Self Trust.
The other hand, meanwhile, guides the kite through the sky, in action, sensing the direction of the wind, watching how it can maneuver, so it gets the best momentum upwards. Both hands are an extension of the consciousness that helps it soar high. As 1000’s of colorful kites of different shapes and sizes adorn the sky, a sight to behold.
No matter how we celebrate this day, in the end, it all only boils down to what we sense within.
What is this year calling forth for you?
What part do you want to play?
What space within inspires your intentions and holds your commitments?
What are you called to thank and let go of?
What are you called to focus on and manifest?
There is nothing to believe but to observe.
- Gyomay Kubose
For me, this quote currently captures my undivided attention. To move away from a set of old beliefs into a newer set of beliefs is growth, no doubt, but to fully let go of the need to hold on to anything for a longer time than it serves and be in the context where we are growth-oriented no matter where we find ourselves — wouldn’t that be a wonderful intention to have?
To navigating and engaging the ISness of Life as it arises and play.
May this year bring us all that serves us best as we ride the new year.
May we like the Sun, come to know our innate nature and shine bright.
May we learn how to be love unconditionally.
May this New Year = New You = BE and DO you!
Happy Sankranti!
#Newbeginnings
#Wonder
#Sankranti