Makara Shankramana
Today is Makara Shankranthi, the day when the sun changes it's path to the northwards marking the beginning of "Uttarayana Punyakala". As a child i always enjoyed the festivals, being with my cousins, playing and fooling around, new clothes and fine sweets was the very definition of any festival than. But in later years, curiosity got me to know there was a story behind every festival - a reason as to what this day marks it's significance.
Two reasons stand out when you think why we celebrate Makara Shankranthi. And before we begun, though we call it Makara Shankranthi. It's more aptly "Makara Sankramana."
The first one can be understood in it's very name, Makara (Capricorn ; Sunsign) and Sankramana meaning crossing. This very day Lord Surya who is believed to be moving in his golden chariot (which is believed to having thousands of spokes with magnificient wheels that are driven by 7 horses indicating the 7 colors that combine to form the light) changes his path to the northwards and enters the Makara Rashi (Capricorn Sunsign) from the Kataka Rashi (Cancer Sunsign).
Secondly, India being an Agriculture land (which is true even today, though we are seeing IT & Industrial growth), this marks the rejoycement of the farmers after they have harvested the crop.
This festival is called by many names but the purpose and the rejoycement remains the same.
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