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Convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) Dr Oscar Rebello has been nominated for CNN-IBN's Indian of the Year Award 2007 in public service category Vote for him at: http://www.cnnibnindianoftheyear.com/publicservice_voting_new.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Makarasankranti - a joyous celebration Govind S. Poteker Soon approaching is the Hindu festival of Makarasankranti, which takes place in the lunar month of Pausha. This year, the festival will mark the Uttarayana of the Sun from the Southern hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere on January 15. In simpler terms, this means that the Sun will enter the constellation Capricornus from Sagittarius (Dhanu rashi). The title of the festival is derived from the basic combination of the word 'Makar' which means the constellation Capricornus, and Sankranti refers to something that occurs every month; this day denotes the apparent passage of the Sun from one constellation to other. According to Shrikant Nagvenkar, Secretary of the Association of Friends of Astronomy, Panaji, there is some inconsistency in our perception of the Sun crossing the ecliptic, due to precession movement. We assume that the crossing over takes place on January 13, 14 or 15, when actually, Uttarayana and Makarasankranti do not coincide anymore like it did in the past as the Sun's actual passage to the North happens on December 21, which adds up to the fact that we are about 23 days behind the correct day. But the technicalities of astronomy go unnoticed by the people who prepare for this festival with pomp and glee every year; this is a festival that every region celebrates in its own unique way. In Northern India, people go to the river banks for holy bath and then distribute gifts and sweets to friends and family members. The animals also get their share of pleasantries and much needed reprieve from work during this occasion. In Tamil Nadu, they celebrate this festival as Pongal, where newly harvested rice is cooked and boiled over in milk in a newly purchased vessel. As every region interprets this festival in their own manner, so too does Goa and Maharashtra, wherein, this festival has different connotations. This festival continues to be celebrated since mythological ages. The festival begins on Makarasankranti day and goes on till Rath Saptami. On that day, in many temples across the state, the idol of a god or goddess is carried in a procession. In Goa, it is commonly known as Haldi Kumkum festival, during which, married women deck up in new clothes and jewellery to visit relatives, friends and neighbours on a reciprocal basis, offering gifts in the form of some household article or grocery item depending (on one's budget) along with the festivals special "Tilgul" (sweetened sesame seeds). Though this ritual celebration is basically for married women, the children don't go empty-handed; they get laddoos, biscuits or candies. All houses celebrating this festival are well decorated with beautiful Rangolis etched outside, to give the place the festive touch. It is also a custom for newly married women to a coconut and small earthen pot during the rituals. Haldi Kumkum, an annual function in every Hindu family, is a traditional way of increasing the social bonding and creating a feeling of congeniality amongst the people of the neighbourbood, which is really the need of time. Every festival has its pleasantries as well as its share of ecological implication, informs Prashant Pednekar, a travel writer who has worked extensively in some parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. On the occasion of Uttarayana, thousands of kites are flown in these regions. Though the sight of these colourful quadrangles flying in the air is indeed a pretty one and the task of flying them is invigorating, we should also keep in mind the plight of the birds, who are the ones to bear the fatal brunt of the glass-smeared cords of the kites. Goa Plus - January 11, 2008