Experience the Knowledge of India Sankranthi Makara Sankranthi Festival D K Hari D K Hema Hari www.bharathgyan.com Page 1 of 48 Experience the Knowledge of India Sankranthi Contents CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 GUDRAVALLI ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6 HOW DID THIS FESTIVAL COME ABOUT? ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 THE 27TH VERSE .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 RELISH AKKARAADISIL, RELISH DEVOTION ............................................................................................................................................... 9 BHOGI.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 RINGING OUT THE OLD AND RINGING IN THE NEW ................................................................................................................................... 10 LOHRI .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 MARRIAGE OF ANDAL ................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 CHAPPANBHOG – ORISSA ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12 BHOGALI BIHU-ASSAM ................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 MAKARA SANKRANTHI ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 EQUINOXES AND SOLSTICES ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 UTTARAYANAM ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 MAKARA– CROCODILE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 SOLSTICE ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 NOW ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 THEN ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 PRECESSION OF EQUINOX AND SOLSTICE .................................................................................................................................................. 16 MAKARA JYOTI ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19 MAKARA .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 JYOTHI ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19 SWAMYAYYAPPA – THE FIVE ELEMENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 20 GANGASAGARMELA ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 BHAGIRATHAPRAYATHNA ........................................................................................................................................................................... 22 AN OCCASION TO THANK BHAGIRATHA .................................................................................................................................................... 23 A RIVER ENGINEERING MARVEL ................................................................................................................................................................. 23 PONGAL O PONGAL ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 2 TYPES OF PONGAL DISH ............................................................................................................................................................................ 27 KHICHEDI ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 PEDDHAPANDUGA ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 WHY IS IT CALLED THE BIG FESTIVAL? ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 MATTU PONGAL / KANNUPIDI .......................................................................................................................................... 29 ANIMAL FESTIVALS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 WORSHIP OF ANIMALS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 www.bharathgyan.com Page 2 of 48 Experience the Knowledge of India Sankranthi KANNUPIDI ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 RECOGNIZING ANIMALS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 30 KEEPING UP BOND WITH FAMILY ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 BREAKING THE ICE ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 30 THIRUVALLUVAR DAY .......................................................................................................................................................... 32 THIRUVALLUVAR ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 A TOWERING PERSONALITY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32 IN INDIAN STAMPS AND COINS .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 CONFERENCES AND COURSES IN HIS NAME ............................................................................................................................................... 33 THIRUVALLUVAR CALENDAR ....................................................................................................................................................................... 33 THIRUKURRAL................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 JALLIKATTU .............................................................................................................................................................................