The diversity in India is evidenced in her religions, rituals, cultures, festivals, and traditions. Most of the Indian festivals have a certain science and reason behind them. The Hindu festivals in India are in sync with the seasons of India. Every season has its peculiar features and impact on human life. This impact is celebrated through festivals.
Celebrating Brotherhood & Harmony
One of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus is Makar Sankranti. Sweets are an integral part of every celebration. But they are more significant on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Particularly, in the region of Maharashtra, which lies to the West of India, exchanging sweets is the most important custom of the festival. While exchanging these sweets, people say the following 'Til Gul Ghya, God God Bola' (literally, it means 'Take this sweet, and speak sweet words'). Til Gul is the special sweet that is made of jaggery and sesame. Sometimes, groundnut and coconut is also added to this. People exchange this sweet with a wish that they resolve their differences and live in harmony with each other.
Customs of the Festival of Makar Sankranti
Women prepare another special sweet. It is round in shape, and made of jaggery and sesame. It is like a chapati with this jaggery-sesame mixture filled into it. Evenings are a busy time for the women folk. A small event is organised by every family. This event is called 'Haldi-Kunku'. Invites are sent out to all married women and girls. Another peculiarity of this event is that, the host lady has to give any small item like a comb or a spoon or a bowl to every woman whom she invites. Every married woman gives five small pots filled with grain, carrot, peas, sliced coconut and sugarcane to five other women. Children too visit their neighbours and distribute 'Til Gul'.
Festive Food
The jaggery and sesame are important ingredients of this celebration. The reason is that the festival of Makar Sankranti falls towards the end of winter. Jaggery and sesame are food items that help the body to resist cold.
Colour of the Festival
It is also a special festival for the newly married couples. The families of the girl and the boy prepare jewels out of sugar-coated balls. Traditionally, the girl dresses up in a saree that is black in colour. This is the only festival that allows wearing black clothes. Especially, black is celebrated, and is a favoured colour of this festive season. On other Hindu festive occasions, black is generally not a welcome colour to wear.
The Harvest festival (or Thanksgiving Day) is similar to Makar Sankranti. Thus both these festivals celebrate and thank God for the crops they have harvested.
Ashwini Deshpande - Welcome to my page.. I have a Bachelors degree in English literature (Fergusson College, Pune), and a Masters degree in Afro-Asian ...
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