Makara Sankranti

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Makara Sankranti MAKARA SANKRANTI Makara Sankranti is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of India and Nepal in a myriad of cultural forms, with great devotion, fervour, and gaiety. It is a harvest festival. Makara means Capricorn Zodiac Sign and Sankranti means transition of the Sun from one zodiac sign to another. Thus Makar Sankranti is the day that marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. [2] The day is also believed to mark the arrival of spring in India. Makara Sankranti is a solar event making it perhaps the only Indian festival whose date always falls on the same day every year: 14 January, with some exceptions, when the festival is celebrated on 13 January or 15 January. History : According to Puranas, on the day of Makara Sankranthi, God Sun pays visit to the house of his son Shani (Saturn) who is the swami of Makar Rashi (Capricorn Zodiac sign). Makara Sankranti is the day when the Sun begins its movement away from the Tropic of Capricorn and towards the northern hemisphere and this period from Makara Sankranthi to Karka Sankranthi is known as uttarayan (northward revolution). To Hindus, the Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makara Sankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to enjoy a new life with bright light within us to shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom and knowledge even as the Sun does from the Day of Makara Sankranti. The festival of Makara Sankranti is highly regarded by the Hindus from north to south. The day is known by various names and a variety of traditions are witnessed as one explores the festival in different states. Owing to the vast geography and diversity of culture in India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons and in innumerable ways depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location. On this day children fly kites. Date and Significance : Makar Sankranti has an astrological significance, as the sun enters the Capricorn (Sanskrit: Makara) zodiac constellation on that day. This date remains almost constant with respect to the Gregorian calendar. However, precession of the earth's axis (called ayanamsa) causes Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makara Sankranti was on 31 December and is now on 14 January. Five thousand years later, it shall be by the end of February, while in 9,000 years it shall come in June. According to canculations, from 2050 Makar Sankranti will fall on January 15. Makara Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. Many Indians also conflate this festival with the Winter Solstice, and believe that the sun ends its southward journey (Sanskrit: Dakshinayana) at the Tropic of Capricorn, and starts moving northward (Sanskrit: Uttarayaana) towards the Tropic of Cancer, in the month of Pausha on this day in mid-January. There is no observance of Winter Solstice in the Hindu religion. Makara Sankranti commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Sanskrit, this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year (or may be sometimes on 15 January (leap year)). Makara Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.All over the country, Makara Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervour. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it. In Karnataka How all are Celebrate this Makara Sankranthi? : This is the Suggi or harvest festival for farmers of Kaveri basin of Karnataka. On this auspicious day, young females (kids and teenagers) wear new clothes to visit near and dear ones with a Sankranti offering in a plate, and exchange the same with other families. This ritual is called "Ellu Birodhu." Here the plate would normally contain "Ellu" (white sesame seeds) mixed with fried groundnuts, neatly cut dry coconut and fine cut bella (jaggery). The mixture is called "Ellu-Bella" (ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ). The plate also contains sugar candy moulds of various shapes (Sakkare Acchu, ಸ响ಕರೆ ಅ棍ಚು) with a piece of sugarcane. There is a saying in Kannada "ellu bella thindu olle maathadi" which translates to 'eat the mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and speak only good.' This festival signifies the harvest of the season, since sugarcane is predominant in these parts. In some parts of Karnataka, a newly married woman is required to give away bananas for a period of five years to married women (muthaidhe) from the first year of her marriage, but increase the number of bananas in multiples of five. There is also a tradition of some households giving away red berries "Yalchi Kai" along with the above. In North Karnataka, kite flying with community members is also a tradition. Drawing rangole in groups is another popular event among women during Sankranti. An important ritual is display of cows and cattle in colourful costumes in an open field. Cows are decorated for the occasion and taken on a procession. They are also made to cross a pyre. This ritual is common in rural Karnataka and is called "Kichchu Haayisuvudu." In Our Country and Other Country Celebrations in Different Types: Pongal or Sankranti is celebrated all over South Asia with some regional variations. It is known by different names and celebrated with different customs in different parts of the country. In India it is known by different regional names. Pongal: Tamil Nadu Makar Sankranti: Bihar, Andhra Pradesh,Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka,Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand andWest Bengal Uttarayan: Gujarat and Rajasthan Maghi: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Lohri: Punjab Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu: Assam Valley Shishur Saenkraat: Kashmir Valley Khichdi: Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar Makara Sankramana: Karnataka Makara Sankramanam: Andhra Pradesh In other countries too the day is celebrated but under different names and in different ways. Nepal: Maghe Sankranti Tharu people: Maghi Other people: Maghe Sankranti or Maghe Sakrati Thailand: Songkran Laos: Pi Ma Lao Myanmar: Thingyan Cambodia: Moha Sangkran Sri Lanka: Ulavar Thirunaal .
Recommended publications
  • Development of an Adventist Radio Program for Farmers in Tamil Nadu
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2000 Development of an Adventist Radio Program for Farmers in Tamil Nadu Thambiraj Mantharasalam Subbiah Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Subbiah, Thambiraj Mantharasalam, "Development of an Adventist Radio Program for Farmers in Tamil Nadu" (2000). Dissertation Projects DMin. 572. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/572 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU by Thambiraj Mantharasalam Subbiah Adviser: Nancy Vyhmeister ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVENTIST RADIO PROGRAM FOR FARMERS IN TAMIL NADU Name of researcher: Thambiraj M. Subbiah Name and degree of faculty adviser: Nancy Vyhmeister, Ed.D. Date completed: September 2000 Problem Tamil Nadu is one of the states of India located in the southern part. The people who live in the state are called Tamils. Agriculture is the main occupation of this state. About 70 percent of the total population of the state are farmers. Hinduism is the main core of their religion. Hinduism taught them various beliefs, such as salvation by work and transmigration of the soul. At the same time, the farmers are caught up with various traditional beliefs which are very much influenced by their agricultural activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion
    HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 36 Number 2 Article 11 December 2016 Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion Georgina Drew University of Adelaide, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Drew, Georgina. 2016. Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion. HIMALAYA 36(2). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol36/iss2/11 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Beyond Contradiction: Sacred-Profane Waters and the Dialectics of Everyday Religion Acknowledgements I offer heartfelt thanks to Mr. Jayhari Srivastava, a lifelong Uttarkashi resident, who served as an assistant for the fieldwork outlined in this article and for portions of my PhD research from 2008-2009. His input and expertise was invaluable. I also extend my gratitude for funding from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Provost Office of The New School. Finally, I offer my sincere appreciation to Thomas J. Mathew, who provided comments
    [Show full text]
  • Food for Thought a Life in Four Courses
    Food for Thought A Life in Four Courses TRANSCRIPT OF PODCAST EPISODE 9: Bimal Giri Bimal Giri was born in Bhutan and grew up in Nepal. In this episode he talks to us about celebrations, festivals and the traditional foods of his homeland. Bimal: I‘m Bimal Giri, I’m 47. I was born in Bhutan, brought up in Nepal and currently living in Edinburgh, Scotland. My cultural, em, we are Hindu, mainly, mainly agricultural country where we source most of our foods from what we grow, and food is, em, one of the important, em, things that we consider. We consider food is a gift of God, or reward. We have to take it in a very peaceful manner, and the food has to be very, aah, nutritious, healthy. So it is in our top priority. Nepal is a small country, just twice the size of Scotland. But it is very much diverse. Em, our country is surrounded by Tibet and India, so we source food from these both countries and it influences our cuisine. So if we say, if we go to south part our cuisines are very much influenced by the Indian dishes like curries and chapattis and parathas kind of things, but if you go to north part it is pretty much like a Tibet or Chinese like momo, the steamed dumplings or some pasta or noodles. So it varies, but again the rich or well off people has, they tend to eat more, kind of, meat and dairy product. Whereas, ah, the other class who cannot afford those, they just live with vegetables, ah, rice and their main staple diet is the dal bhat which consist of rice, lentil and vegetables twice a day, and that’s the food they eat.
    [Show full text]
  • Uhm Phd 9519439 R.Pdf
    INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality or the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely. event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. MI48106·1346 USA 313!761-47oo 800:521-0600 Order Number 9519439 Discourses ofcultural identity in divided Bengal Dhar, Subrata Shankar, Ph.D. University of Hawaii, 1994 U·M·I 300N. ZeebRd. AnnArbor,MI48106 DISCOURSES OF CULTURAL IDENTITY IN DIVIDED BENGAL A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN POLITICAL SCIENCE DECEMBER 1994 By Subrata S.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft the District Council of Grand Port
    ANNUAL REPORT JULY 2016- JUNE 2017 (Under Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2011, as subsequently amended 1 | P a g e CONTENTS 1.0 Mission, Vision and Value Statement Page 5 2.0 Information on The District Council of Grand Port Page 6 3.0 Roles and function of Committees Page 12 4.0 Trends and Challenges Page 32 5.0 Major Achievements for period July 2016 – June 2017 Page 35 6.0 Financial Statements for year 2016/2017 Page 38 7.0 Comparison of budget with actual for year 2016/2017 Page 46 8.0 Strategic Direction Page 53 2 | P a g e Chief Executive’s Statement Pursuant to Section 142 of the Local Government Act 2011 as subsequently amended, I have much pleasure to submit the Annual Report for the period January– June 2016 for the District Council of Grand Port. I am thankful to the staff for having put their level best to ensure the materialisation of our goals, aims and objectives during the year. My team has seen to it that Council’s decisions be forthwith implemented to the satisfaction of all our stakeholders whilst being in compliance with our statutory duties and legal requirements. This report highlights our main achievements for .July 2016 – June 2017 and indicates our objectives for July 2017 – June 2018 S. TEELUCK CHIEF EXECUTIVE 3 | P a g e Chairperson’s Statement Since my election as Chairperson on 21st December 2016, I have pursued the goals and objectives of the Council and seen to it that same be implemented to the satisfaction of all stakeholders at all times.
    [Show full text]
  • Ayurveda, the Traditional System of Medicine Gives Equal to Daily Regimen As Well As Seasonal Regimen
    Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine gives equal to daily regimen as well as seasonal regimen. Both are dependent. Because we change our daily regimen according to seasons. Humans are blessed with a beautiful environment to live in. The nature of the environment changes with the seasons. There are six seasons. Summer, rainy, spring, autumn, early winter and late winter. One season accompanies the other in the form of a cycle. In our life’s journey, we pass through childhood, middle age, old age which is not under our control. Similarly we have to face all season irrespective of what your age is or where you live in. Seasons are a part of our life. Ayurveda has described each season with its features and appropriate regimen in ritucharya chapter. Ritu means season and charya means regimen. From this we come to know that regimen in each season is different from the other. Another thing is that seasons is not unique in all parts of the world. The basic concepts in Ayurveda is related to tridoshas. Vata, pitta and kapha are the tridoshas. Human body can’t exist without these basic principles. These doshas are subjected to variation according to ages, day and night, food, lifestyle, seasons etc. Doshas predominate in a particular season depends upon the characteristic feature of that season. Each season has its own features. Seasons are formed as a result of earth’s position with respect to sun. Depending on this, there are two major divisions: uttarayana and dakshinayana. In case of uttarayana, sun is predominant. Strength of the person decreases during this season.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Drik Panchang Hindu Calendar
    2019 Drik Panchang Hindu Calendar Hindu Calendar for San Francisco, California, United States Amanta Calendar - new month begins from Amavasya Page 1 of 25 January 2019 Margashirsha - Pausha 1940 Navami K Pratipada S Saptami S Purnima S Ashtami K SUN 30 24 6 1 13 7 20 15 27 23 रिव 07:29 16:55 07:30 17:01 07:29 17:08 07:26 Pausha Purnima 17:15 07:22 17:23 Shakambhari Purnima Bhanu Saptami Chandra Grahan *Purna Tula Dhanu 10:56 Meena 23:23 Mithuna 10:36 Tula Chitra 18:49 U Ashadha 31:07+ Revati 23:23 Punarvasu 15:53 Swati 24:59+ Dashami K Dwitiya S Ashtami S Pratipada K Navami K MON 31 25 7 2 14 8 21 16 28 24 सोम 07:30 16:56 07:30 17:02 07:29 17:09 07:26 17:16 07:21 17:24 Pongal Chandra Darshana Makara Sankranti Tula Makara Mesha Karka Tula 19:30 Swati 19:15 Shravana Ashwini 24:27+ Pushya 12:58 Vishakha 25:45+ Ekadashi K Tritiya S Navami S Dwitiya K Dashami K TUE 1 26 8 3 15 9 22 17 29 25 मंगल 07:30 16:57 07:30 17:03 07:29 17:10 07:25 17:17 07:21 17:25 Saphala Ekadashi Tula 13:54 Makara 23:46 Mesha 30:39+ Karka 10:02 Vrishchika Vishakha 20:10 Shravana 10:11 Bharani 24:43+ Ashlesha 10:02 Anuradha 27:11+ Dwadashi K Chaturthi S Dashami S Tritiya K Ekadashi K WED 2 27 9 4 16 10 23 18,19 30 26 बुध 07:30 16:57 07:30 17:04 07:28 17:11 07:25 17:18 07:20 17:26 Sakat Chauth Pradosh Vrat Pausha Putrada Ekadashi Lambodara Sankashti Chaturth Shattila Ekadashi Vrishchika Kumbha Vrishabha Simha Vrishchika 29:11+ Anuradha 21:34 Dhanishtha 13:20 Krittika 24:11+ P Phalguni 28:52+ Jyeshtha 29:11+ Trayodashi K Panchami S Ekadashi S Panchami K Dwadashi K THU
    [Show full text]
  • Gudi Padwa Is Celebrated for a Number of Reasons
    Gudi Padwa is celebrated for a number of reasons. It is believed that Lord Brahma created the world on this day and is there- fore worshipped. It is also believed that the 'Gudi' (flag) is a symbol of Lord Rama's victory over Ravan and his subse- quent re-in statement to his post in Ayodhya after completing 14 years of Exile. GUDI The people of Maha- rashtra also see the gudi as a symbol of PADWA victory associated with the conquests of Copyright © 2011 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. the Maratha forces led by Chhatrapati Shivaji. Gudhi is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house. India predominantly being an agrarian so- ciety, celebrations and festivals are often linked to the turn of the season and to the sowing and reaping of cops. This day also marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. GUDI INTRODUCTION PADWA Gudi Padwa is the Marathi name for Gudi Padwa is celebrated for a number of 'Chaitra Shukla Pratipada'. It is the first reasons. It is believed that Lord Brahma day of the New Year according to the Hindu created the world on this day and is there- calendar. fore worshipped. It is also believed that the 'Gudi' (flag) is a Gudi Padwa or Ugadi is celebrated in the symbol of Lord states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rama's victory over some parts of Karnataka and is considered Ravan and his subse- as one of the four most auspicious days in quent re-in statement the Hindu calendar.
    [Show full text]
  • Triad Hindu Temple)
    Hindu Society of North Carolina (Triad Hindu Temple) Physical Address: Hindu Society of North Carolina (Triad Hindu Temple) Our Priest at the Temple, Mahadacharya, Sri Muralikrishna 2424 Huffine Mill Rd, McLeansville, NC 27301 Sarma Bhuvanagiri, comes from a traditional Vedic family and is a native of Hyderabad, AP India. He is fluent in his native Mailing Address: language, Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi and English and can PO Box 4643 Greensboro, NC 27404 understand a few other Indian languages. Phone: (336) 621-5848 His Temple related work experiences to include: Devalaya Website www.triadhindutemple.org Email: [email protected] Samprokshanam; Nitya Shodasopachara Puja; Abhishekams, Alankarams, Archanas; Aalya utsava; Temple Festivals like Brahmotsavam, Kalyanotsavam, Devalaya Prathistapanas, About HSNC (Triad Hindu Temple) Devalaya Kumbhabishekams, all homams and Yagnams For many years, prayer meetings were held at people’s homes, community halls and normally done at the Temples. even motel rooms! It took the drive, dedication and commitment of many people to He can be reached at 336-517-6268. buy this land and build this Center. Thanks to their generosity, we now have a place to call our own. This is our society and our community. It is now up to each and every one of us to build upon this to preserve and perpetuate our heritage. “When Monthly scheduled special Puja at the temple: we channel individual strength together, we will have a strong society, a society our Saturdays: Suprabhata Seva & Vishnu Sahasranamam next generation will be proud of and ready to take over” Sundays: Sakala Devata Aradhana and Abhishekam Pournami: Sri Satyanarayana Puja & Katha The HSNC has been the stage for several Music programs and spiritual discourses Sankatahara Chaturthi: Sri Vinayaka Puja over the past years.
    [Show full text]
  • Calendar 2021 Employee Diversity and Inclusion
    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2021 Employee Diversity and Inclusion Here at the IET, we are dedicated to demonstrating our Our first multi-year Equality, Diversity and Inclusion commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), Strategy launched in October 2019. The strategy and advocating inclusivity in engineering is a crucial validates our efforts to embed EDI throughout the element to addressing the skills shortage that currently institution and shows that our efforts are joined up threatens UK engineering industry and enables us to and are fundamental to us achieving wider change. represent the global membership base in which we serve. This approach supports equal and professional Adopting methods that enable us to recruit from all opportunity for all. We recognise the importance of sections of society allows us to widen the talent pool, promoting equal opportunities for all and ensuring that inspire a broader range of individuals and show that all processes across the organisation are inclusive. engineering is for everybody. As one of the largest PEIs in the world; we have This calendar for 2021 highlights major key dates and a duty to promote engineering to everybody and religious holidays that we as an institution celebrate. encourage organisations to do more around promoting The calendar also outlines our many events that happen the importance of embracing equality, diversity and throughout the year that we hope to welcome many of inclusion. It is important that we demonstrate that we you to. are a welcoming and inclusive engineering institution where everybody has an equal opportunity to succeed. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion January This month can also be referred to as Dry January.
    [Show full text]
  • Guruji Golwalkar
    Syllabus Year I, Quarter I Age Group : 9 to 12 Gokulam is the place where Lord Krishna‛s magical days of childhood were spent. It was here that his divine powers came to light. Every child has that spark of divinity within. Bala- Gokulam is a forum for children to discover and manifest that divinity. It‛s objective is to enable Hindu children in US to appreciate their cultural roots and learn Hindu values in an enjoyable manner. This is done through weekly gatherings and planned activities which include games, yoga, stories, shlokas, bhajan, arts and crafts and much more...... Balagokulam is a program of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). www.balagokulam.org Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Table of Contents January Shloka / Subhashitam / Amrutvachan ....................................4 Geet ........................................................................................6 What is Bala-Gokulam? .........................................................7 What is Hindu Dharma? .........................................................9 Makar Samakranti ................................................................11 Project ................................................................................14 Exercise ................................................................................15 February Shloka / Subhashitam / Amrutvachan ..................................18 Geet ......................................................................................20 Shri Guruji Golwalkar ..........................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • Mothering Rituals a Study on Low Caste Women of Kolkata
    Riikka Uuksulainen MOTHERING RITUALS: A STUDY ON LOW CASTE WOMEN IN KOLKATA Academic dissertation to be publicly discussed, by due permission of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki in lecture hall 6, on 26 June 2013, at 12 o’clock noon. HELSINKI 2013 Copyright © Riikka Uuksulainen !"#$% &'() Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................. ix List of illustrations .................................................................................................................. x Tables ................................................................................................................................ x Figures .............................................................................................................................. x Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................xii PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Prologue: a feast for the benefit of children ................................................................. 3 1.2 In search of the voice: defining the research task ........................................................ 3 1.3 Introductory remarks on the research data, sources, and method ................................. 5 1.4 Reflections on the niche .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]